PRP (Platelets Rich Plasma) injection for Hip Pain
The HIP joint is the largest joint in the body this serves to transmit the weight from the entire upper torso into the HIP and lower extremities.
The hip joint is a deep ball and socket joint that has limited mobility but is highly stable this is required for bipedal ambulation.
Diseases of the hip joint like other large joints include osteoarthrosis degeneration of the joint or bone due to trauma or vascular insufficiency as well as ligamentous damage.
Pain due to hip pathology especially osteoarthrosis can be quite debilitating.
This often leads the patient to try various treatments including intra-articular steroid injections, which are usually limited to no more than two injections per year.
Steroid injections do help, however, when repeatedly done they can cause damage to the delicate blood supply of the hip causing a condition called avascular necrosis.
Platelet Rich Plasma intra-articular injections can be an excellent alternative option.
The earliest randomized controlled trial of the use of PRP was in 2012, since then, studies have been done to compare PRP to other intra-articular joint injection therapies, such as conservative management and hyaluronic acid treatment.
In general, most of the articles conclude that PRP is a safe treatment and has demonstrated potential for symptom relief, especially in osteoarthritis for up to a year with a single treatment. Younger patients with hip pathology tend to be more responsive.
Severe osteoarthritic hip joints are treated with hip replacements, though in many cases, however, such extensive surgery is not an option. For this group of patients, a series of PRP treatments can be highly effective and improve function and decrease pain scores allowing for a better quality of life.
