Knee preservation · Chennai
PRASAD™ starts with understanding your knee.
A structured pathway combining clinical assessment, preparation, selected orthobiologic treatment and rehabilitation with Dr. A.K. Venkatachalam.
PRASAD stands for Platelet Rich Adipose Stromal Advanced Derivative. At Madras Joint Rejuvenation Centre, it describes an individual approach to preserving the natural knee when that remains reasonable.
Assessment first
A treatment decision for your knee.
The starting point is the cause of your pain and loss of function: the joint, its supporting muscles and soft tissues, the underlying bone, or a problem elsewhere such as the hip or spine. Your symptoms, examination, existing scans, previous treatment and general health are considered together.
What matters to you?
Walking distance, stairs, sleep, stiffness and the activities you want to regain help define meaningful goals.
What is causing difficulty?
Cartilage, menisci, synovium, subchondral bone, stability and movement may contribute differently in each knee.
Is preservation appropriate?
An X-ray grade or your age alone does not answer this. Advanced damage, instability or other findings may make another treatment more appropriate.
The biological approach
Different preparations for different clinical targets.
The PRASAD framework considers the joint environment and underlying bone together. The exact combination and route of delivery depend on the findings; every patient does not automatically receive every component.
Platelet-rich plasma
PRP is prepared from your blood. The practice uses leukocyte-poor PRP in selected knee treatment plans.
Adipose stromal tissue
Adipose tissue from a small harvest is mechanically processed by fractionation to prepare stromal vascular fraction (SVF), a tissue-derived preparation. In selected patients, it may be combined with PRP as platelet-rich stroma (PRS). This is not laboratory-expanded stem-cell therapy.
Bone marrow concentrate
BMAC is prepared from your bone marrow. Targeted delivery into underlying bone may be considered when assessment identifies a relevant bone marrow lesion.
INTO THE JOINT · WHEN INDICATED
LP-PRP + processed adipose tissue
These preparations may be combined for delivery into the knee joint in selected patients. They come from the patient’s own blood and a small fat harvest.
This is not laboratory-expanded stem cell therapy. Symptom improvement does not prove cartilage regrowth.
INTO UNDERLYING BONE · WHEN INDICATED
BMAC for a relevant bone lesion
Bone marrow concentrate may be delivered into a bone marrow lesion when assessment and imaging support that target.
The bone procedure is distinct from a joint injection. It is not used automatically and does not guarantee healing.
Then comes rehabilitation and review.
The plan may include preparation, strengthening, activity guidance and bracing when appropriate. The exact combination depends on the assessment. The complete PRASAD pathway has not been proven to restore normal cartilage or prevent replacement in every patient.
Intra-articular means delivery into the joint; intraosseous means delivery into bone. These are different procedures, with different reasons for use and different risks.
From assessment to follow-up
A pathway beyond the procedure.
1. Assess & plan
Review your knee, health, imaging and prior care. Agree on goals, alternatives, likely costs and whether treatment should proceed.
2. Prepare
A preparation period—often around four weeks in the practice’s pathway—may address blood sugar, relevant nutritional or inflammatory findings, activity, sleep and rehabilitation readiness. Tests are selected for your circumstances.
3. Treat selected targets
If appropriate, discuss the proposed harvests, preparations, injection sites, anaesthesia and immediate aftercare. You receive a procedure-specific consent discussion before deciding.
4. Rehabilitate & review
Progressive strengthening, activity guidance and bracing when indicated support the plan. Follow-up reviews pain, movement, walking and function against your starting point.
Do not stop prescribed medicines or start supplements from website instructions. Bring a complete medicine list so your treating clinicians can give individual advice.
What should you expect?
The clinical goals are less pain and better function. The degree, timing and duration of improvement vary, and some patients do not improve sufficiently.
PRASAD is the practice’s combined pathway. Research on an individual component such as PRP does not establish the effectiveness of the complete combination. A patient’s improvement is useful follow-up information, but does not by itself prove cartilage regeneration or that disease progression has stopped.
There is no promise of a new knee, complete cartilage restoration or permanent avoidance of replacement. Discuss the evidence relevant to your diagnosis, realistic goals and the alternatives.
Risks, alternatives and a clear decision.
Using your own tissue does not make a procedure risk-free. Injections and tissue harvests can cause pain, swelling, bruising, bleeding or infection; additional risks depend on the harvest site, delivery route and anaesthesia. These should be explained for the proposed procedure.
Alternatives may include exercise-based rehabilitation, activity changes, bracing, suitable medicines or other procedures, including knee replacement when indicated. You can choose to defer an intervention and discuss a monitoring plan.
Read treatment and recovery FAQs → · Hear patient experiences →
Bring your questions and existing reports.
A consultation determines whether PRASAD or another approach is reasonable for your knee. Please confirm appointment time and venue before travel.
Clinic appointments: +91 95661 43108
Kasthuri Hospital, West Tambaram, Chennai.