Section Menu

    Published on June 12, 2023

    OHRH Offers Innovative Sports Medicine Treatment

    Provider Hands

    Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections are gaining popularity for various conditions, from sports injuries to arthritis, using a patient’s own blood cells to accelerate healing in a specific area. Owensboro Health Orthopedics and Sports Medicine are excited to be the only practice in the area offering this innovative treatment. 

    What is Platelet-rich Plasma?

    Platelet-rich plasma consists of two elements: plasma, or the liquid portion of blood, and platelets, a type of blood cell that plays an important role in healing throughout the body. 

    To create platelet-rich plasma, clinicians take a blood sample from the patient and place it into a device called a centrifuge that rapidly spins the sample, separating the components of the blood. 

    What is a Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP) Injection?

    After creating platelet-rich plasma from a patient’s blood sample, that solution is injected into the target area, such as an injured knee or a tendon. For some areas, the doctor may use an ultrasound to ensure the injection goes exactly where it’s needed to accelerate the healing process.

    How is it used?

    At Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, Dr. Justis Stolz and Dr. Reid Wilson administer PRP injections for a range of conditions, from sports injuries to arthritis. For example, chronic tendon injuries such as tennis elbow can often take a long time to heal, so adding PRP shots to a treatment regimen can help to stimulate the healing process, decrease pain and enable a return to activities sooner.

    Early studies indicate that PRP injections may help treat osteoarthritis pain and stiffness by modulating the joint environment and reducing inflammation, but research is growing.

    Patients must be good candidates for PRP injections, which is determined by having at least one consultation with a physician before the procedure to learn about preparation and recovery.

    For more information, call 270-417-7940.  

    About Owensboro Health

    Owensboro Health is a nonprofit health system with a mission to heal the sick and to improve the health of the communities it serves in Kentucky and Indiana. The system includes Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, nationally recognized for design, architecture and engineering; Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Hospital; Owensboro Health Twin Lakes Medical Center; the Owensboro Health Medical Group comprised of over 350 providers at more than 30 locations; three outpatient Healthplex facilities, a certified medical fitness facility, the Healthpark; a weight management program, and the Mitchell Memorial Cancer Center.

    On average each year, we have more than 19,000 inpatient admissions, deliver 2,000 babies and provide the region’s only Level III NICU. Owensboro Health physicians perform nearly 33,000 surgical procedures, including nearly 150 open-heart surgeries. Our physicians and staff have 90,000 Emergency Department visits and more than 1.25 million outpatient visits annually. Visit our home page for more information.