Platelet-rich plasma: a novel therapy for osteoarthritis and tendinopathy

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment – using patients’ own blood platelets to stimulate healing in injured musculoskeletal tissue – is a relatively new treatment. Although it has been in use for more than 10 years, it has only recently been employed in Australia, primarily by sports medicine physicians. It is gaining popularity because of its relative low cost, simplicity and, from the authors’ experience, good clinical outcomes.