PRP Knee

PRP Knee Injection Overview

The knee joint is placed under an extreme amount of stress each day during normal tasks, work movements and athletic activities. Because of the knee’s constant stress load, it is one of the most commonly injured joints and a top reason individuals living in the Denver, Vail and Aspen, Colorado area visit a knee specialist. Dr. Matthew Provencher specializes in various non-surgical knee treatments, including PRP knee injections. This biologic treatment is also known as autologous blood injection in the knee, and is gaining popularity as an innovative treatment option for chronic ligament and tendon injuries, acute muscle injuries and osteoarthritis.

What are Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections?

Four main components make up human blood and include platelets, plasma, white blood cells and red blood cells. Clinical research has proven that platelets gravitate towards an injured area in the body to help accelerate the natural healing process. When activated, the platelets release healing proteins known as growth factors. These growth factors have the ability to accelerate healing and stimulate cellular growth after an injury.

Common Conditions Treated by PRP Knee Injections

PRP for Knee Deterioration Injuries

An injury to the ligaments and menisci in the knee can be very painful and debilitating, and may lead to deterioration of articular cartilage within the joint. An autologous blood injection in the knee is designed to help ligament and cartilage injuries heal more rapidly without the need of surgical intervention.

PRP for Knee Tendon Injuries

Tendon injuries have a high response rate to PRP knee injections in many patients. One of the most common knee tendon injuries is a patellar tendon injury. The patellar tendon attaches the bottom of the kneecap (patella) to the top of the shinbone (tibia). The patella attaches to the quadriceps muscles by the quadriceps tendon. Working together, the quadriceps muscles, quadriceps tendon and patellar tendon straighten the knee joint.

PRP for Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common forms of arthritis that affects the knee, commonly seen in patients over the age of 50 years. Daily impact and athletic activities cause deterioration to articular cartilage, leading to joint pain, stiffness and swelling.

Recent research from the Hospital of Special Surgery (HSS) found that PRP knee injections improved pain and function in up to 73% of patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis and even appeared to delay the progression of osteoarthritis.

PRP for Bone on Bone Knee Injuries

Articular cartilage is the white, smooth tissue that covers the ends of each bone throughout the human body. In the knees, cartilage lesions or tears are extremely common. If the lesions go all the way through to the bone it is called a full-thickness lesion. PRP knee injections have the ability to provide nutrients and oxygen necessary to help slow down damage to the articular cartilage.

How Does Dr. Matthew Provencher Perform an Autologous Blood Injection in the Knee?

Dr. Provencher begins an autologous blood injection in the knee by extracting a small sample of a patient’s own blood, most commonly from the arm. The harvested blood is then spun in a centrifuge to separate the four main blood structures. Once separated, the platelet rich plasma is removed and injected directly into the injured knee’s tissue to accelerate healing. Since PRP therapy is an autologous blood injection obtained from a patient’s own blood, the risk of reaction is low.

For more resources on an autologous blood injection in the knee, or to determine if you are a candidate for PRP knee injections, please contact the orthopedic office of Dr. Matthew Provencher, serving patients in Denver, Vail and Aspen, Colorado.

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Matthew Provencher, MD

Average rating:

66 reviews

James Wilson

Oct 11, 2024

by James Wilson on Matthew Provencher, MD

Senior Electronics development engineer

Wow the Steadman clinic and Doctor Matthew Provencher now that;s a super combination of expertise, experience, empathy, skill and a cherry picked staff with truly outstanding nurses and professional support staff. I was scared of shoulder surgery until I read Dr. Provencher BIO and talked to him. If your considering shoulder replacement surgery this is the place. In three weeks out now and people are amazed at my ability of movement and flexibility I have now. I love the Steadman Clinic and Dr. Matthew Provencher, He's Superman

Anne Miller

Jun 18, 2024

by Anne Miller on Matthew Provencher, MD

Grateful to Dr Provencher and his team

I am a 75-year old, active, athletic woman. Over the last few years, both of my shoulders reached a point where severe arthritis was affecting even day to day tasks. It started with one shoulder in 2021 and recently the second reverse shoulder replacement – both with Dr Provencher. Before my first one, I had received various recommendations including adjusting my lifestyle. Dr Provencher looked at my MRI and x-ray and asked what I enjoy doing and was quick to let me know I could be back to my active lifestyle soon – and he was right. He reads images faster and more accurately than any doctor I have consulted. He has many options available and if you need surgery he is the one to do it. Surgery is quick and the recovery is much easier than I anticipated. I am 10 days out from my second reverse shoulder and have no pain and gaining mobility already! My case for both shoulders was a bit more complicated due to bone integrity, severe arthritis and bicep tears. Dr Provencher has dealt innovatively with both complications and makes it seem straightforward although I know it was not. He is not only one an extraordinary surgeon, but also, a caring human being who takes the time with his patients and makes himself available if questions arise. His team is second to none – Maddy, Madison, Sam, Scott, Jasmin and in pre-op, Layla and Kevin – in terms of commitment, competence, compassion and responsiveness. Both times I have felt cared for and that resolving my situation mattered to him. Wherever you live, Dr Provencher and his team are the ones to trust. There is no need to live a compromised life!

Gene reiling

Jul 21, 2023

by Gene reiling on Matthew Provencher, MD

Success

If you are planning to see Dr Provencher ,do not hesitate ,do it. In 2018 Dr Provencher replaced my LCL. I had no complications and very little pain. I did my physical therapy as prescribed. I was able to ski 30 plus days the winter of 2019-2020. Before seeing dr Provencher I had spent a years time trying to solve my problem locally. I saw a pain specialist, orthopedic urgent care and a orthopedic surgeon. All had access to an mri done locally. It was also read by local radiologist. Pain dr gave injections as did orthopedic urgent care. No relief from pain. Orthopedic surgeon told me about arthritis, meniscus needing cleaning up and general deterioration from age. Told me to take ibuprofen for pain. At that time I reached out to Steadman Clinic. By luck of the draw I was assigned Dr Provencher. I took with me the mri that had been done locally and viewed by 3 local Drs and 1 PA. It took Dr Provencher less than a minute to tell me my problem was my LCL after viewing my mri. He told me my options . I selected surgery as I wanted to continue an active life style. It was a complete success!!

Knee | Shoulder | Joint Preservation | Arthroplasty