Central Taiwan hospital offers PRP treatment for joint deterioration

台灣中部醫院提供 PRP 治療關節惡化

Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital offers ‘platelet-rich plasma’ to treat arthritis in joints

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections administered by Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital helped alleviate the pain of one patient suffering from joint degeneration.

An 83-year-old man surnamed Cheng (鄭) suffered joint degeneration so severe that he had been advised by doctors to undergo artificial ankle joint replacement. However, the treatment was expensive and not covered by national health insurance, per CNA.

At the suggestion of Dr. Lu Chuan-chin (呂傳欽), he opted for a less invasive treatment program involving PRP injections. To his surprise, the pain went away almost immediately.

Cheng worked as a mason. Thirty years ago at a construction site, he broke his lower leg and experienced difficulty walking.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed Cheng had degenerative arthritis in his left ankle, leading to excessive cartilage wear. At the suggestion of his doctor, he did PRP treatment for one month, receiving injections in and around his ankle joint.

After the third injection, he stopped feeling pain. He has been pain-free for more than half a year now.

Dr. Lu said that PRP injections can stimulate tissue repair and regeneration by taking 10 to 15 cc of one’s blood and putting it into a centrifuge to extract the upper platelet plasma. Later, PRP is injected into joints with the aid of ultrasound, with one injection per week for up to four weeks.

Dr. Lu said PRP therapy can repair the skin, tendons, and other soft tissue. It can also reduce pain in the cartilage or meniscus of the joints.

PRP therapy is not covered by national health insurance, Dr. Lu said. However, patients may feel better after the first injection, giving people the confidence to continue with future injections.

However, individuals suffering from platelet dysfunction, acute or chronic infectious diseases, liver and vasculature chronic diseases, or patients who are receiving anticoagulant treatment, may not be suitable for PRP therapy. Individuals should consult a physician to determine if PRP is an appropriate treatment option.