Parties to a workers' compensation case are always looking for ways to better treat the injured worker and get him or her back to work. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) could be an alternative for treating injured workers. In this process, blood is drawn from the injured worker then platelets are separated from the other blood cells. The platelet concentration is increased through a process called centrifugation. This increased concentration is then combined with the remaining blood and injected into the injured area.
PRP injections can be used to treat a number of conditions including knee tears/sprains, partial rotator cuff tears, partial Achilles tears, ankle sprains and sacroiliac joint pain Whether the injection is effective depends on the area of the body being injected, the injured worker's overall health and whether the injury is acute or chronic.
The cost of these injections can be between $500 and $1,000. Depending on the injury, two to three injections may be needed for someone to fully benefit from the treatment. Treatment of an injury, such as damage to the ACL, with PRP injections is an alternative to surgery for those who would prefer less invasive forms of treatment. This, of course, must be discussed thoroughly with a physician.
While PRP injections are beneficial, they are not without side effects. After an injured worker receives an injection, they may have an increase in inflammation and pain to the area for a week or more after the injection and it may take several weeks before the injured worker feels any benefits. This might be outweighed by the relief as the damaged tissue can regenerate and regrow. Additionally, this treatment does not require surgery or the rehabilitation that follows many surgical procedures. This is a possible alternative to be discussed with a treating physician.
Disclaimer: The contents of this post are for informational purposes only, are not legal advice and do not create and attorney-client relationship.
For more information please contact Vanessa Mendelewski at vmendelewski@wglaw.com or 973.851.1061