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• American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
The word comes from the Greek “arthros”
meaning joint and “scopos” meaning to
look. It's a surgical procedure that allows surgeons to
see inside joints and the spaces surrounding them in order to
detect and treat damaged tissue. The arthroscope is a small,
pencil-sized instrument that acts as a fiberoptic light and
camera to see inside your joint. The surgeon views a picture
of the procedure on a television monitor. During surgery, the
arthroscope is placed in your joint through a very small incision,
and at least one other small incision is made for the doctor's
tiny instruments. The final result is accomplished with less
pain, smaller incisions, and less downtime than more invasive
surgery.
If you have osteoarthritis,
the joint has lost its natural cushioning fluid. This grinding
action of bone and cartilage may be why you have pain. Synvisc
is not a drug. It is made from a substance that is found in
normal joint fluid – it's like lubrication for your
joint. It acts as a kind of shock absorber to cushion your joint
and reduce pain. It is given usually as three injections, one
week apart, over a 15-day period. Pain relief can begin in a
month or two and last for many months after that.
Platelet Rich Plasma is a concentration of platelets and growth factors created from a small amount of your own blood. Increased levels of growth factors improve signaling and recruitment of cells to any injury site and optimize the environment for healing. This treatment has been used to assist in the treatment and recovery of injuries.
Your health care provider will recover a small amount of blood from your arm using a small needle and a specially designed syringe. The blood then goes through a rapid spinning process that separates and concentrates the platelets and other beneficial growth factors from the blood. The plasma containing these platelets and growth factors are then applied to the treatment area. The entire PRP production process is usually done in 20 to 30 minutes.
PRP uses your body’s own natural properties to treat your injury. Side effects utilizing PRP systems are very uncommon.
For more information, please discuss with your health care provider or you can go to www.orthoillustrated.com to learn more about the process.
Victor R. Kalman, DO, FAOAO, is now scheduling patients for PRP in our Silverside Road office. Please call 302-529-5500 ext 2019 to make an appointment. Any questions regarding cost and what your insurance may cover regarding this procedure can be answered at that time.
Cartilage lines the ends of your bones so your joints move smoothly.
This cartilage can wear away over time. Eventually it may wear
down to the bone and cause discomfort, swelling, and stiffness
as the bones grind together. This is called osteoarthritis.
Causes include joint injury, excess weight, joint disease, active
work, and genetics. Osteoarthritis can't be cured. Medications
may be able to help alleviate mild or moderate pain. Lifestyle
modifications that can help the condition include proper exercise,
weight loss, orthotics, and nutritional supplements. However,
if the condition is severe, surgery can be performed which can
remove, repair, or replace parts of the joint. It may also be
possible to replace damaged cartilage.
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