Definition

In alternative medicine, autologous blood treatment is used to treat both orthopedic and non-orthopedic diseases. The aim of this form of therapy is to stimulate self-healing processes in the body with the help of the patient's own blood. The treatment method is characterized by its quick availability and good tolerability. In some cases, it can offer an alternative to invasive procedures.

However, autologous blood therapy is controversial in the scientific community for several reasons: On the one hand, the data available regarding its effectiveness is limited, since most of the studies involve small groups of subjects. Secondly, the amount and type of blood preparation are not standardized, which makes it difficult to draw general conclusions about autologous blood treatment.

Our orthopedists at Orthozentrum Freiburg will be happy to advise you on the current scientific data with regard to your particular condition.

Mode of action

Autologous blood treatment can cause the following effects:

  • Pain relief
  • Improvement of wound healing
  • Improvement of cartilage and bone healing
  • Inhibition of inflammatory processes
  • Regulation of the immune system

The mode of action depends on the preparation of the blood and the place of reinjection. In most cases in orthopedics, the blood is processed into platelet-rich plasma (PRP), which has a very high concentration of platelets, which are crucial for blood clotting. The platelets in the plasma lead to the release of a wide variety of messenger substances, including growth factors, which triggers a number of different processes in the body.

Areas of application

Autologous blood treatment is used for the following orthopedic diseases, among others:

  • Osteoarthritis of all joints
  • Injuries of tendons and ligaments
  • Injuries of muscles (fiber tears, strains, hematomas)
  • Inflammation or irritation of tendons
  • During or after surgery

Autologous blood treatment is used in orthopedics only in combination with other therapeutic methods and not as a stand-alone therapy.

It is mainly used in the early stages of joint de generation(osteoarthritis), particularly in the hip and knee joints. The injection of platelet-rich plasma is often combined with the injection of hyaluronic acid into the joint.

In addition, autologous blood treatment is used for a wide variety of injuries to tendons, muscles or ligaments, including rotator cuff lesions and cruciate ligament injuries. Another area of application of autologous blood therapy is irritation or inflammation of vision, as is the case, for example, with tennis elbow and golfer's elbow or Achilles tendon irritation.

Autologous blood can also be used during and after operations to accelerate the healing processes, for example in the reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament or the rotator cuff.

Treatment process

After a detailed discussion with one of our orthopedists regarding your complaints, you will be thoroughly informed about this form of therapy and possible risks.

During an autologous blood treatment, a small amount of blood is drawn from the vein of the person to be treated, processed if necessary, and re-injected. The preparation can range from enriching the blood with ozone or oxygen to homeopathic dilution. In orthopedics, however, the preparation usually involves the production of platelet-rich plasma (PRP). For this purpose, the blood is centrifuged so that the red heavy blood cells settle and the platelet-rich plasma remains. Under ultrasound guidance, the platelet-rich plasma is then injected into the affected area, for example into a joint. At Orthozentrum Freiburg , our orthopedists pay strict attention to sterility during reinjection.

For the entire treatment you can expect a duration of about 30 minutes. The number of sessions depends on the condition.

Side effects

Possible side effects may include:

  • Redness, pain, bruising at the injection site
  • Allergic reactions

The fact that only the body's own substances are used in this form of treatment means that it is a therapy with very few side effects . At most, redness or pain may occur at the injection site, but this should disappear within a few days. In this case, painkillers from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be taken. Allergic reactions rarely occur.

Our orthopedists will be happy to advise you further and clarify any open questions with you.

FAQs

Patients with blood infections (HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C) should not undergo autologous blood treatment. Skin damage in the puncture area, such as inflammation, is also a criterion for exclusion. Caution should be exercised when taking blood-thinning medications and it is essential to consult the treating physician.

As a rule, autologous blood treatment is not painful. If necessary, there may be slight pain at the injection site.

As a rule, the costs for an autologous blood treatment are not covered by the statutory and some private health insurance companies, so that in the vast majority of cases it is a self-pay service. In individual cases, however, the costs are paid depending on the health insurance and the disease. It is best to ask your health insurance company directly about this.

If you have any further questions or would like to make an appointment with us, please do not hesitate to contact us at 0761 7077300, by email info@orthozentrum-freiburg.de or via our contact form. You are also welcome to book an appointment via the online platform www.doctolib.de or via the Doctolib App.