Table 1.

Benefits and limitations of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy.

Criteria	Benefits	Challenges
Minimally invasive	• No surgery, incisions, or prolonged healing time	• Not applicable
Rapid preparation	• Can be prepared quickly without the need for preservatives	• Not applicable
Safety with own cells	• Uses the patient's own blood, minimizing risks of immune reactions or infections	• Not applicable
Comprehensive therapeutic effects	• Reduces synovial inflammation, protects cartilage, and reduces pain	• Not applicable
Reduction of contaminants	• Closed preparation system minimizes contamination risks	• Not applicable
Accelerated recovery time	• Enhances tissue healing and reduces recovery period	• Not applicable
Enhanced biocompatibility	• Uses the patient's own cells, reducing risk of rejection or immune response	• Not applicable
Morbidity at injection site	• Not applicable	• Possible discomfort, swelling, or pain at the injection site
Lack of standardized methods	• Not applicable	• No universal protocol for PRP preparation or administration, leading to variability in outcomes
Risk of scar tissue and calcification	• Not applicable.	• Potential risk of developing scar tissue or calcification at the injection site
Optimal processing and concentration not fully known	• Not applicable	• Ideal concentration of platelets and growth factors is still under investigation
Risk of infections and allergic reactions	• Not applicable	• Rare risk of infection or allergic reaction, especially if not handled with strict aseptic techniques
Unknown frequency and volume	• Not applicable	• Best frequency and volume of PRP injections for different conditions are not well established
Contraindications for certain conditions	• Not applicable	• Not suitable for patients with specific medical conditions, such as certain autoimmune diseases or cancers, where it could worsen the condition