Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

What is Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy?
There’s been a lot of research about platelet rich plasma therapy (PRP) being used to treat several types of foot and ankle pathologies such as Achilles tendinitis, posterior tibial tendinitis as well as other conditions like plantar fasciitis and arthritis. Platelet-rich plasma injections, or PRP injections, utilize the patient’s own blood platelets to promote healing of wounds and soft tissue disorders. PRP injections have been successfully used to help heal tendons, ligaments, muscles and joints. Platelets are derived from the cells in our bone marrow and are a component of the blood, along with red blood cells and plasma.

How does it work?
This relatively new treatment that has been known to promote the regeneration of soft tissue and healing within the body without the risks and extended recovery time often associated with surgery. In this procedure, the patient’s blood is drawn into a tube which is then spun down in a centrifuge in the office to isolate the platelet-rich plasma. The platelet-rich plasma is then injected into the injured area under local anesthesia. Ultrasound imaging may be used to guide the injection. The concentrated blood components are rich in cytokines and growth and healing factors which, when released into the injured, promote and stimulate healing.

Success Stories
Platelet rich plasma therapy (PRP) has received a lot of media attention after athletes such as Tiger Woods and tennis star Rafael Nadal, received this type of treatment to help with sports-induced injuries. However, anyone can potentially benefit from platelet rich plasma to help treat their injuries. Issaquah Foot and Ankle Specialists has offered PRP therapy for quite some time now and it’s extremely successful.

Platelet rich plasma contains 5x the usual concentration of platelets and growth factors in normal blood. This enhanced concentration of autologous platelets is achieved by centrifugation, the process of separating light and heavy proteins using centrifugal force.

Research
Research concerning the clinical validity of platelet rich plasma therapy (PRP) is very strong. There have been several recent studies that have produced substantial
evidence regarding the positive effects of platelet rich plasma therapy (PRP) in conditions such as osteoarthritis, bone regeneration, tendonitis, and degenerative disc
disease.

PRP has been used for nearly two decades, including for bones and joints in orthopedic surgery, to try to regenerate cells of the heart in cardiac surgery, and of course to
accelerate the recovery and healing of skin before and after plastic surgery. 

Fundamentally, this treatment uses the body’s own cells to deliver a natural process of rejuvenation and repair to the skin. As such the procedure has the benefit of being at the forefront of current science and technological advances, but carrying minimal risk of complications to the patient.

There is robust scientific evidence that supports the regenerative potential of PRP and platelet-derived growth factors.

At our pain clinic, platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy is used to treat the following conditions:

• Achilles Tendon Tears
• Achilles Tendonitis
• Achilles Tendonosis
• Ankle Arthritis
• Ankle Sprains
• Ankle Sprains
• Anterior Talarfibular Ligament
• Arthritis
• Cartilage Damage
• Cartilage Injury
• Extensor Tendonitis
• Flexor Hallucis Tendonitis
• Flexor Tendonitis
• Foot Arthritis
• Ligament Injuries
• Ligament Injuries
• Ligament Tears
• Metatarsal Arthritis
• Peroneal Tendon Tears
• Peroneal Tendonits
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Subtalar Joint Arthritis
• Tendon Injuries
• Tendon Tears
• Ankle ligament repair
• Ankle sprains
• Chronic ankle pain
• Peroneal tendon surgery alternative
• Plantar fasciitis surgery alternative
• Treatment for achilles tendonitis
• Treatment for ankle arthritis
• Treatment for ankle sprains
• Treatment for ankle tendonitis
• Treatment for foot arthritis
• Treatment for peroneal tendonitis
• Treatment for posterior tibial tendon dysfunction

A series of two to four injections may be required. This procedure is performed using ultrasound or x-ray.

Source:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6220007/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5632954/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3565396/

Stem Cell

What is Stem Cell Therapy
Stem cell therapy is a form of regenerative medicine that uses the body’s natural healing mechanism to treat various conditions. Stem cell therapy is being used in regenerative medicine to renew and repair diseased or damaged tissues and have shown promising results in treatments of various orthopedic, cardiovascular, neuromuscular, autoimmune conditions, and in foot and ankle conditions.

Stem cells are present in all of us, acting like a repair system for the body. However, with increased age sometimes, the necessary amounts of stem cells are not present at the injured area. The goal of stem cell therapy is to amplify the natural repair system of the patient’s body by increasing the numbers of stem cells at injury sites.
Stem cells are special cells that enable your body to function. They have the unique ability to make copies of themselves (self-renew). They can also develop into a more specialized cell every time they divide.

How does it work?
Stem cell therapy involves injecting stem cells at the site of damage, using one's own cells heal. Stem cell therapy is usually more beneficial for people with arthritis or more chronic conditions. The procedure itself is relatively painless and can be performed on the same day. If you suffer from chronic foot or ankle conditions and would like last resort for considering surgical intervention try stem cell therapy.

The procedure begins with your doctor extracting stem cells from your own bone marrow. Your doctor will first clean and numb the area where the stem cell is aspirated from. A needle is then introduced into the area and bone marrow is then aspirated using a special syringe and the sample obtained is sent to the laboratory. In the laboratory, the aspirate is spun in a machine for 10 to 15 minutes and a concentrated stem cell sample is separated.
Your doctor then cleans and numbs your affected area to be treated and then, under the guidance of special X-rays, injects the stem cells into the diseased region. The whole procedure usually takes less than one hour, and you may return home on the same day of the procedure.

Success Stories
Athletes such as Kobe Bryant have utilized stem cell therapy to help with sports-induced injuries. At Issaquah Foot and Ankle Specialists, we’ve used stem cell therapy for our patients for several years now and have found that it’s extremely successful.

Stem cell injections may be used to successfully treat patients with degenerative arthritis, tendon and ligament damage. The injections ca offer pain relief and prompt tissue regeneration.

The procedure is virtually pain-free as our doctors first acquire some of the patient’s own stem cells by collecting a blood sample from a selected part of the body. The procedure allows our doctors to customize the stem cell specimens for your particular injury.

This blood contains a very high concentration of stem cells and using a special procedure, unhelpful cells are removed, leaving only the powerful healing “stem cells.”

Treatments

• Achilles’ tendon damage
• Ankle instability
• Arthritis
• Chronic debris
• Fractures: non-union or slow healing
• Ligament strain or tear
• Osteoarthritis
• Peroneal tendon sprain or tear
• Plantar fasciitis

Source:

https://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics.htm
https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/what-we-do/nih-turning-discovery-into-health/stem-cells
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4104807/