High School Athlete Running Again After PRP and Shockwave Treatment
Regenerative Orthopedic Case of the Week:
18 year old high school senior track athlete with 2 year history of left chronic patellar tendonopathy limiting his participation in running. Sharp, anterior knee pain with running, squatting.
On physical exam, he had significant tenderness with palpation of the patellar tendon and notable pain performing single leg squat. Symptoms persist despite rest and physical therapy.
Ultrasound imaging showed significant tendon thickening, swelling and partial tears along with substantial, abnormal blood flow within the tendon called neovascularization (yelllow-orange in the pics). Neovascularization is a common finding in chronic tendonopathy.
After discussing treatment options of shockwave, PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) or surgery, the patient chose regenerative treatment. The tendon was treated with tendon needling and injection of PRP along with disrupting the abnormal blood flow by injecting fluid along the back side of the tendon (hydrodissection). This was followed by 5 weekly sessions of shockwave and physical therapy.
Today, 3 months out from treatment, he has no pain on palpation and no pain with single leg squat. He is ready to resume sports training. Ultrasound imaging today shows dramatic improvement in the appearance of the tendon with decrease tendon thickness, decreased tendon swelling, improved tendon architecture and the abnormal blood flow is almost completely resolved.
Come see what regenerative orthopedics can do for you!
I have been performing PRP treatments since 2007!
SteveMeyersMD.com
Texas Health Care Bone & Joint Clinic
1651 W Rosedale #200
Ft Worth, TX. 76104
(817) 661-8498
Yellow-orange signal is abnormal blood flow in the tendon (neovascularization)
Patellar tendon is significantly thickened and dark in appearance indicating swelling and partial tears.
Abnormal blood flow signal almost completely resolved after treatment
3 months after treatment, Patellar tendon appearance is significantly improved
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