PRP Injections · Knee Osteoarthritis · Glastonbury, CT
Paul D. Tortland, DO, FAOASM, CAQSM, RMSK is dual board certified in Sports Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM), and a Diplomate of the American Board of Regenerative Medicine (2015). Orthopedic sports medicine and orthobiologics in Glastonbury, CT, serving Connecticut and New England.
PRP can reduce pain from early to moderate knee arthritis for 6 to 12 months in well-selected patients, but it does not regrow cartilage. In Glastonbury, CT, Dr. Tortland counts the platelets in every preparation, sets the dose for your knee and injects it himself under live ultrasound.
What it is: a same-day, in-office injection of your own concentrated platelets into the knee. It is meant to reduce pain and inflammation, not to reverse arthritis.
Who it fits: people with early to moderate knee arthritis who want to delay or avoid surgery. Bone-on-bone knees respond less reliably, and knee replacement may be the right choice.
What is different here: Dr. Tortland counts the platelets in each preparation, tailors the dose to your age and injury, and places it himself under live ultrasound.
Response rate
60 to 70% of well-selected patients
Typical relief
6 to 12 months
Best for
Mild to moderate arthritis & small partial ligament / tendon tears
Cartilage regrowth
Not shown in studies
Time in office
About an hour
Back to activity
Within a few days
First results
Weeks 6 to 16
Payment
Out of network and direct pay
Knee care in Connecticut
Dr. Tortland sees patients at his Glastonbury office for evaluation of knee arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions. Patients commonly travel from Hartford, West Hartford, Farmington, Simsbury, South Windsor, Enfield, and other Connecticut communities for physician-performed, ultrasound-guided PRP evaluation, and treatment when appropriate.
Knee conditions evaluated
How it works
PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma: your own blood, spun in a centrifuge so the platelets are concentrated, then injected into the knee joint. Platelets are best known for clotting, but they also carry growth factors: proteins that signal tissue to heal and inflammation to settle down.11
Osteoarthritis is a wearing down of the smooth cartilage that caps the ends of the bones. The goal of PRP is not to grow that cartilage back. It's to change the chemistry inside the joint, with less inflammation, less pain signaling, and a calmer environment for the cartilage that remains. Think of it as a symptom treatment with a longer runway than cortisone, not a repair job.
The visit itself is simple
A small tube of blood is drawn from the arm.
Spun for a few minutes to separate the platelet-rich layer.
The platelet-rich layer is injected into the knee, often with ultrasound guidance so the needle lands exactly where it should.
The whole process takes well under an hour, and most people return to normal daily activity within one to three days.
The honest answer
Yes, PRP injections can help many people with mild to moderate knee arthritis, and the relief often lasts 6 to 12 months in patients who respond. Research suggests roughly 60 to 70 percent of carefully chosen patients get at least a meaningful improvement in pain and function over that window.1,2,10
Notice the qualifiers: mild to moderate arthritis, carefully chosen patients. Patients who do best with non-surgical care tend to share a pattern. PRP can buy that patient real time:
A bone-on-bone knee is a different story. Once the cartilage is gone, no injection restores it, and the research on PRP in severe arthritis is much weaker3,10, that's worth hearing plainly rather than starting an expensive series of shots that disappoint.
Evidence
Meta-analyses pooling many trials together found PRP eased pain and improved function better than hyaluronic acid gel shots and better than placebo saline, with the edge clearest past the three-month mark.1,2
Results trend in PRP's favor over time. While steroid shots often work faster in the first 4 to 6 weeks, PRP tends to pull ahead at 3 to 6 months and can hold its benefit longer in appropriately selected patients. Repeated steroid injections have also been linked to greater cartilage volume loss over time. PRP does not regrow lost cartilage or guarantee results, and neither treatment is right for every knee.10
Mostly because PRP itself is not one product. Platelet concentration, white blood cell content, activation method, and injection schedules all vary between studies, so pooling them is messy. Patient selection matters just as much: trials heavy with severe, bone-on-bone arthritis show weaker results than trials of earlier disease, which mirrors exactly what's seen in clinical practice.8,9,11
PRP vs. hyaluronic acid, 2021
44.7% vs 12.6%
WOMAC score improvement across 18 randomized trials (811 PRP vs. 797 HA patients, ~11-month follow-up).1
Meta-analysis, 2024
OR 6.19
PRP patients were more likely to reach clinically meaningful pain improvement than with other non-surgical injections; OR 2.19 vs. hyaluronic acid.2
Platelet dose, 2025
5 to 10 billion
Moderate-dose PRP had the largest effect on function across 32 knee OA trials, so knowing the dose delivered matters.6,5 See how dose changes results and what to ask a provider.
AAPM&R guidance, 2026
First formal statement
On PRP for knee osteoarthritis: patient selection, dosing, technique, and informed consent.4
Why it matters
PRP is not a single standardized treatment. Platelet concentration, total platelet dose, cellular composition, preparation method, injection volume, treatment target, and delivery technique can all vary.
At the practice of Dr. Paul Tortland, DO, CAQSM, RMSK, PRP treatment begins with the diagnosis, not a preset injection recipe.
Dr. Tortland's double-spin process, measured on a Beckman Coulter DxH 500 cell counter, averages at least 12 to 15x baseline platelet count. Most standard bedside kits reach only 2 to 7x.7 For arthritic knees he selects leukocyte-poor PRP, where evidence shows comparable or slightly better outcomes with less short-term discomfort.8,9How Dr. Tortland prepares PRP →
Research backed. Evidence based. Results focused.
Dr. Tortland measures the patient's baseline platelet count.
Measures the resulting PRP preparation and evaluates its cellular composition.
Uses those measurements to help guide a treatment protocol tailored to the diagnosis and tissue being treated.
PRP is delivered with advanced MSK ultrasound and x-ray guidance to visualize the target anatomy and ensure precise needle placement.
Comparison
Corticosteroid
Effect
Suppresses inflammation more quickly
Duration
Usually shorter, from weeks to a few months
Best for
Short-term relief; repeated steroid use can weaken cartilage over time
Hyaluronic acid
Effect
Supplements joint lubrication
Duration
Similar short-term benefit to PRP; generally less durable at 12 months in head-to-head studies
Best for
Short-term symptom relief
High-concentration PRP
Effect
Calms joint inflammation and supports the knee's own healing response
Duration
Typically 6 to 12 months
Best for
Appropriately selected patients with mild to moderate arthritis
Joint replacement
Effect
Replaces the joint surface
Duration
Long-term; the most reliable option
Best for
Severe, end-stage bone-on-bone arthritis, where no injection, PRP included, is likely to provide lasting relief
Candidacy
PRP may help if
PRP may not be right if
| Option | What it does | Best for | Downtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cortisone | Steroid that reduces inflammation quickly | Short-term flare relief | Minimal |
| Hyaluronic acid (gel) | Adds lubricating fluid to the joint | Mild to moderate OA | Minimal |
| High-concentration PRP | Concentrated platelets from your own blood, dosed to your baseline count | Mild to moderate OA | Short; clinical team gives tailored guidance |
| Joint replacement | Replaces the damaged joint surfaces | Severe, end-stage arthritis | Weeks to months of recovery |
Safety
PRP uses a patient's own blood, so allergic reactions are very unlikely.
Soreness, stiffness, and mild swelling at the injection site for a day or two.
Infection, bleeding, and nerve irritation: the same short list that applies to any joint injection.
PRP starts at $1,800. The office is out of network and direct pay, with an itemized superbill for reimbursement and HSA and FSA funds accepted. A Good Faith Estimate confirms the exact price after the diagnostic workup.
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen can blunt the response PRP relies on, so ask Dr. Tortland's clinical team for your specific restrictions and tailored recommendations before taking any.
Next steps
Start with an accurate picture of the knee, not a product. These will show the right path, which might be PRP injections, another non-surgical option, or a surgical discussion.
Shows how much joint space remains.
Hands-on and ultrasound evaluation of the knee.
What you want to get back to, and which option fits.
Patient experiences
"Dr. Tortland and his staff are so caring and professional. I have been getting PRP injections for a couple of years and have had amazing results. Knee pain has been significantly reduced and strength has increased as well, thank you."
"I have been coming to Dr Tortland for two years and counting. His PRP therapy allowed me to avoid the knife. My Achilles tendon healed without any of the possible complications that surgery might involve… You are provided with realistic options to improve your condition, and in my case, the results speak for themselves."
"Dr Tortland gave me back my mobility! A deteriorating Achilles tendon caused a limp that damaged both knees. The doctor recommended PRP injections and the result was miraculous!"
Individual results vary. Patient experiences are not a guarantee of outcome.
Frequently asked
PRP (platelet-rich plasma) is a treatment made from a patient's own blood, concentrated to increase platelet content, then injected into the knee under ultrasound guidance. Platelets carry growth factors that help calm joint inflammation and support the body's own healing response, easing pain and improving function in mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis.
Improvement is usually gradual rather than immediate, building over several weeks as the growth factors calm inflammation in the joint. Most patients who respond notice meaningful change between weeks 6 and 16, and results often keep building for up to a year.
Yes. Mild soreness, stiffness, or swelling for one to three days after a PRP injection is normal and expected, since the injection triggers a brief inflammatory response. Ice and rest usually manage it. Severe pain, spreading redness, fever, or drainage is not normal and should prompt a same-day call to the office.
No study has definitively shown that PRP regrows cartilage in an arthritic knee. Research supports PRP as a way to reduce pain and inflammation and improve function, not as a way to reverse osteoarthritis. Claims that PRP rebuilds cartilage go beyond current evidence, so it's worth treating those claims skeptically.
Knee replacement becomes the better conversation when arthritis is severe or bone-on-bone, pain disrupts sleep and daily life, and injections or therapy no longer provide lasting relief. PRP works best in earlier arthritis. An orthopedic evaluation can review X-rays and symptoms to determine which option fits a specific knee.
Dr. Tortland's practice is out of network and direct pay, so we do not bill your insurance. We provide an itemized superbill and claim form so you can request reimbursement from your plan, and HSA and FSA funds can be used. The initial evaluation and diagnostic workup is $500 in the office or $300 by telehealth. PRP starts at $1,800, and the exact price is confirmed in writing as a Good Faith Estimate after the diagnostic workup.
The knee is numbed with local anesthetic before the injection, so most patients feel pressure rather than sharp pain during the procedure itself. Mild soreness, stiffness, or swelling for one to three days afterward is normal and expected.
Connecticut patients with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis who want to explore non-surgical options before or instead of surgery, and who have not had adequate relief from conservative measures, are reasonable candidates for a PRP evaluation. Dr. Tortland sees patients at his Glastonbury office from across Hartford County and Connecticut.
Many patients start with a single injection and are reassessed before deciding whether a repeat treatment is worthwhile. Some protocols use a short series of two to three injections spaced weeks apart; the right approach depends on the individual knee and how it responds.
PRP is low-risk because it uses a patient's own blood, so allergic reactions are very unlikely. The most common side effects are soreness, stiffness, and mild swelling at the injection site for one to three days. Rare risks include infection, bleeding, and nerve irritation, the same short list that applies to any joint injection.
For appropriately selected patients with moderate arthritis, PRP and other orthobiologic treatments may meaningfully delay the need for joint replacement, buying years of more comfortable, active function. This isn't guaranteed, and it isn't the same as a head-to-head trial against surgery itself, but it's a real, evidence-supported possibility worth discussing.
Candidacy depends on an accurate diagnosis, not a phone conversation: a standing X-ray or imaging review, a physical exam, and a discussion of your goals. Patients with mild to moderate arthritis and remaining joint space are generally the best candidates, while severe, bone-on-bone arthritis is less likely to respond well.
Dr. Tortland was the first physician in southern New England to perform PRP and has treated knee arthritis with orthobiologics since 2007. He was also the first physician in the world certified in regenerative medicine (credentials, publications). Every injection is placed by him personally under live ultrasound guidance, and PRP is custom-formulated on-site to a measured concentration rather than a standard bedside kit.
Related reading
Candidacy is determined on ultrasound, not over the phone. Bring your imaging and get an honest answer in one visit.