Glucocorticoids
Hyaluronic acid or viscosupplementation
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
PRP is a product derived from a sample of your blood and is used to treat several musculoskeletal conditions. The procedure involves taking a blood sample from a patient, separating the platelets from other blood cells and increasing their concentration in a process called centrifugation. These platelets are then injected into the injured site.
Although it is not known exactly how PRP works, laboratory studies have shown that the increased concentration of growth factors in PRP can potentially speed up the healing process.
What you need to know...
The doses and types of glucocorticoids vary depending on the structure injected.
Contraindications to intra-articular or soft tissue injections of glucocorticoids include periarticular infection, septic arthritis, periarticular fracture, joint instability and juxta-articular osteoporosis. Joint injection in patients on anticoagulation is not usually a contraindication. Aspiration.
Complications of intra-articular injections include infection, haemorrhage, tendon rupture, neurovascular injury. Other complications related to the glucocorticoid component include post-injection rash, flushing, local skin or fat changes, osteonecrosis, cartilage damage, systemic effects (e.g. hyperglycaemia), bleeding, allergic reactions and other rare complications.
As pain may increase after the injection, we suggest applying ice to the area for 10 minutes every hour for the first 48 hours. Patients should allow a period of relative rest of the infiltrated area for 1-2 days.
Please note that it may take several weeks before you feel the full benefit of your injection.
In order to get the most out of your PRP injection, we strongly advise you to follow a post-PRP protocol including physiotherapy.