If your thumb hurts and simple treatments are not working, you might wonder if there are other ways to help it heal. This article looks at a study from Switzerland that tested a treatment called PRP for people with tendon problems. PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma, which is made from your own blood.
Here are three things we will explore together:
- What PRP is and how doctors make it
- How well it worked for people with tendon pain
- Whether the amount of platelets in the treatment mattered
Key Findings at a Glance
- Research shows that 61% of patients felt much better after just one PRP injection for tendon pain
- Another 36% of patients needed two injections to feel better and return to their activities
- The study included 48 patients aged 18 to 86 years old, showing this treatment works for different ages
- According to this study, the exact amount of platelets in the treatment did not change how well it worked
- Studies indicate that standardized preparation of PRP is very important for consistent results
In This Article
What Is This Blood Treatment Called PRP?
PRP is a special treatment that doctors make from your own blood. The letters stand for platelet-rich plasma. Let me explain what that means in simple words.
Doctors take a small amount of your blood and spin it in a special machine. This separates the platelets from the rest of your blood. Then they collect the platelets and mix them back with some of the plasma. This creates a liquid that has more platelets than normal blood.
You may be wondering why this matters. Platelets carry special helpers called growth factors. These growth factors tell your body to grow new healthy tissue and fix damaged parts. When you inject this platelet-rich mixture into an injured area, it can help that area heal better.
How Did This Study Work?
This research took place at Lausanne University Hospital in Switzerland. The doctors looked back at records from 2013 to 2020. They studied 48 patients who had tendon problems and received PRP treatment.
The patients were between 18 and 86 years old. The average age was about 43 years. They had different activity levels. Some were very active in sports, and others were not.
Here is where it gets interesting. All the PRP was made following very strict rules. This is called GMP manufacturing, which stands for Good Manufacturing Practice. It means every batch of PRP was made the same careful way every time.
The doctors used ultrasound to guide the needle. Ultrasound is like a camera that uses sound waves to see inside your body. This helped them put the PRP exactly where it needed to go.
What Did the Results Show?
According to this study, the results were encouraging. Most people felt much better after their treatment.
Let us look at the numbers:
| Outcome | Percentage of Patients |
|---|---|
| Felt better after one injection | 61% |
| Needed two injections | 36% |
What does feeling better mean? Research shows that these patients had no more pain and could go back to all their normal activities. That is a big win if you have been dealing with ongoing pain.
The study also found that age did not matter. Younger people and older people both got better. The same was true for gender. Men and women both improved. Even how active someone was did not change the results. Athletes and less active people both benefited.
How Long Did It Take to Feel Better?
The study looked at patients over time. Some felt better quickly. Others took longer. About 6 out of 10 people only needed one treatment. The rest needed a second injection to feel fully better.
This is important to know. If one treatment does not solve everything, a second one might help.
Does the Amount of Platelets Matter?
You might think that more platelets would work better. That seems logical. But this study found something surprising.
According to this study, the amount of platelets in the treatment did not change how well it worked. Patients with lower platelet concentrations got better just as often as those with higher concentrations.
Most of the PRP preparations in this study had a concentration factor between 2.0 and 2.5. That means they had about two to two and a half times more platelets than normal blood.
The researchers found no strong connection between this number and whether someone felt better. This tells us that you do not need super high platelet counts for the treatment to work.
Why Does Standardization Matter?
Let us look closer at something the researchers said was very important. Standardization means making the treatment the same way every single time.
Studies indicate that when each batch of PRP is made differently, it becomes hard to know what really works. One patient might get a very concentrated mixture and another might get a weaker one. Then doctors cannot compare results fairly.
This Swiss hospital used strict manufacturing rules. Every PRP batch was made following the same exact steps. This made the treatment more reliable and predictable.
The same goes for how the treatment was given. All patients received their injection using ultrasound guidance. This meant the PRP went to the right spot every time. This consistency helped make the results more trustworthy.
What Does This Mean for Treatment Quality?
According to medical evidence, when treatments are standardized, patients can trust the results more. You know what to expect. Doctors can compare their results with other doctors. This helps everyone learn what works best.
The researchers emphasized that both making the PRP and giving the injection should follow clear protocols. Protocols are step by step instructions that everyone follows the same way.
About This Site: We help people with thumb pain and rhizarthrosis understand medical science in simple language. Every article on this site is based only on published scientific studies. We read the research and explain it in words anyone can understand. Feel free to explore more articles to learn about your condition and treatment options.
Common Questions
Is PRP treatment safe?
According to this study, PRP uses your own blood, so there is very little risk of allergic reactions or rejection. The treatment was given safely to 48 patients of different ages. No serious safety problems were reported in this research.
How many treatments will I need?
Research shows that 61% of patients in this study felt completely better after just one injection. Another 36% needed a second injection. Most people needed one or two treatments to return to their normal activities without pain.
Will PRP work for me if I am older?
Studies indicate that age did not affect the results in this research. Patients ranged from 18 to 86 years old, and the treatment worked across all age groups. Being older or younger did not change how well people improved.
Does it matter how active I am?
According to this study, your activity level did not change the results. Athletes and less active people both got better. The treatment helped people return to their activities regardless of how much they exercised or played sports.
What This Means for You
If you have been struggling with tendon pain that will not go away, this research offers hope. PRP treatment helped most people in this study get back to their activities without pain.
The key takeaway is that standardized PRP can be effective for tendon problems. It does not matter if you are young or old, active or less active. The treatment worked across different types of people.
Remember that about 6 out of 10 people felt better after one treatment. Others needed a second injection. This is normal and okay. Healing takes time, and every body is different.
If you are considering PRP, talk with your doctor about whether it might be right for you. Ask if they follow standardized protocols for making and giving the treatment. This can help ensure you get the same quality care that worked in this study.
Important Note
This article shares information from medical research. It is not medical advice. Every person is different, and what works for one person may not work for another. Always talk to your own doctor about your specific situation. Your doctor can look at your condition and help you decide what treatment is best for you.
Scientific Source
This article is based on research published by Sebbagh, Patrick; Hirt-Burri, Nathalie; Scaletta, Corinne; Abdel-Sayed, Philippe; Raffoul, Wassim; Gremeaux, Vincent; Laurent, Alexis; Applegate, Lee Ann; Gremion, Gerald in Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland) in 2023.
Read the full study here: https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10040409