New innovations in sports medicine: good for the patient or good for the pocketbook?

摘要

New technology and procedures provide added hope for the injured athlete's recovery. Their widespread use and popularity, however, often precede supporting evidence. Case in point: the treatment of a Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver prior to the 2009 Super Bowl. After a regenerative therapy injection of platelet-rich plasma, he returned successfully to the playing field and contributed to his team's victory. The media grasped the treatment modality, and almost instantaneously, platelet-rich plasma became the new "sweetheart" treatment in sports medicine circles.