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PRP Therapy for Arthritis in Kigali

As part of arthritis care, PRP and SVF cell therapy for the knee, hand, shoulder and other joints — after a doctor has first reviewed your case and tests

Knee joint: regenerative treatment without surgery
Joint treatment without surgery. Free consultation and review of your scans

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What it is

What is arthritis
and when does this treatment fit?

Inflammation of a joint is what arthritis is. Its usual signs: pain at night and at rest, morning stiffness that takes over half an hour to wear off, swelling, redness and heat over the joint. Possible causes range from autoimmune diseases — rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis — to gout, infection or a previous injury.

  • No surgery — an injection instead of an operation
  • Own tissue — your blood and adipose tissue
  • Ultrasound guidance for every injection
Knee joint: an injection under ultrasound guidance

Who the treatment suits

Your scans are reviewed and you are examined before a doctor decides whether the treatment suits you

Suitable

A doctor reviews knee X-rays with a patient
  • Pain, crunching or stiffness in a joint
  • Painkillers only help for a short time
  • Recovery after injuries and surgery
  • You need a second opinion on your scans
  • You want to avoid or postpone joint replacement
  • Early or moderate arthrosis or arthritis
  • High load on the joints — sport or physical work

Not suitable

A doctor examines a patient's knee
  • Cancer
  • Pregnancy
  • Blood clotting disorders
  • Acute infections, including infection in or near the joint
  • Flare-up of a serious chronic illness
  • Temporary contraindications: fever, flu or a cold, or inflamed skin over the joint being treated

Not sure the treatment is right for you?

Leave your number — the coordinator will ask for your scans (X-ray, MRI or ultrasound), and the doctor will tell you whether treatment without surgery suits you.

Find out if it suits me

What we treat

Conditions we treat

How it works

How the procedure goes: step by step

Consultation and scan review1

Consultation and scan review

Your X-rays, MRI or ultrasound are reviewed and the joint is examined, after which the doctor decides whether this procedure suits you. Already have scans? You can send them in advance.

Blood sample for PRP2

Blood sample for PRP

Blood is taken from a vein in a small amount, later to be turned into platelet-rich plasma with growth factors.

Adipose tissue sample3

Adipose tissue sample

Roughly 30 ml of adipose tissue is removed through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh under local anaesthetic, and no stitches are needed afterwards.

Processing in a centrifuge4

Processing in a centrifuge

The sample is spun in a centrifuge and separates into layers. The stromal vascular fraction is isolated and mixed with the platelet-rich plasma.

Injection into the joint5

Injection into the joint

Ultrasound guidance helps position it precisely as the prepared material is injected directly into the affected joint.

Follow-up6

Follow-up

There are no crutches and no hospital stay. After the procedure the doctor keeps in touch and follows how the joint responds.

Book a consultation

Call or message us — our coordinator will contact you shortly and book your consultation

A doctor talks with a patient about joint treatment
Book a consultation
A doctor talks with a patient about joint treatment

Results

After the procedure

  • Doctor talking warmly with a patient after the procedure

    1 week

    The joint may ache a little more — this is an expected reaction.

  • Doctor consulting an older patient one month after treatment

    1 month

    The pain usually eases.

  • Doctor explaining progress to a patient using a knee joint model

    ~3 months

    Mobility and activity improve.

  • Doctor and patient walking together at a follow-up visit

    ~6 months

    The full effect develops.

How long it lasts differs from person to person and depends on the stage of the condition, body weight, activity and other factors — no one can promise a fixed result.

Comparison

Methods we use

Everything used comes from you — your blood and adipose tissue — with no synthetic or donor material

Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue

From a small sample of adipose tissue we isolate the stromal vascular fraction (SVF), a mix of repair-related cells. Combined with your own plasma, the material is injected into the joint that is affected.

A doctor explains SVF cell therapy for the knee to a patient on a tablet

Inflammatory arthritis is one use for it, once the acute flare has settled — because it acts on local inflammation and tissue repair.

Material
Your adipose tissue and plasma
How it is given
Into the joint, under ultrasound
Duration
The whole procedure is done in one day.

PRP — platelet-rich plasma from your own blood

Separated from a small volume of your blood, plasma rich in platelets and growth factors is injected into the joint to help calm inflammation and create better conditions for tissue repair.

A doctor explains PRP therapy for joints to a patient on a monitor

Recommended in some cases of rheumatoid and other inflammatory arthritis, it is one part of a broader treatment plan.

Material
Your blood from a vein
How it is given
Into the joint, under ultrasound
Duration
The whole procedure is done in one day.

The benefits and timings shown are averaged and given for guidance: the plan and recovery depend on your joint and individual features, and the doctor confirms them at the consultation.

At the consultation the doctor will review your scans and suggest a treatment plan

Free consultation

Book a consultation

Joints

Joints we treat

Large and small joints — the doctor chooses the joint, the method and the number of injections after reviewing your scans

  • KneeKneeMeniscus issues and cartilage wear, with pain after walking or on stairs
  • HipHipEarly hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
  • ShoulderShoulderRaising the arm hurts; the joint and the tendons around it are worn
  • ElbowElbowJoint surfaces that have worn, plus pain after sports strain or overuse
  • Hand and wrist jointsHand and wrist jointsStiff, painful small joints in the fingers and wrist
  • AnkleAnklePain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries

Advantages

Why patients choose City Medical Centre

Preserving your own joint, not replacing it, is the goal of our treatment without surgery

Your own tissue

Your own tissue

Everything used comes from you — your blood and adipose tissue — with no synthetic or donor material

No crutches

No crutches

Local anaesthetic and punctures in place of incisions mean no long rehabilitation

Second opinion

Second opinion

A doctor independently assesses the X-rays, MRI or reports you send — free of charge

Support after the procedure

Support after the procedure

We remain in contact after the procedure and follow the result, well beyond the injection day

About the clinic

A clinic where you can feel at ease

Modern equipment, comfortable rooms and care for every patient

A doctor and a patient at the clinic

Contact us the way that suits you

We will answer your questions and find a convenient time for a consultation

Request a free call

Price

Arthritis treatment prices

Cost varies with the joint, the arthritis type and the method, so it is named by the doctor after the consultation

FAQ

Joint treatment: frequently asked questions

About the conditions

More about these conditions

Other services of our clinic

Arthritis in Kigali: types, methods and price

The causes of arthritis vary: autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis, gout, infection or an old injury. In Kigali, the doctor first confirms the type of arthritis, because treatment depends on it.

No crutches and no hospital stay are needed. The puncture sites are small and covered with dressings, and the doctor stays in touch with patients in Kigali after the procedure.

Send your X-rays, MRI, ultrasound or blood test results. Patients from Kigali receive a free assessment and a clear answer on suitable treatment and its price.

Arthritis and everyday life in Kigali

Kigali is the capital and largest city of Rwanda and a province-level administrative unit. According to the 2022 Rwandan census, the population of Kigali was 1,745,555. It is a young city: about 73 per cent of residents are under 30, and 94 per cent are under 50. When a person here develops joint pain, it often appears in the middle of a busy working life, with a job, study, children and a large family circle. That is why patients ask practical questions first: how soon can I go back to my desk, to the market, to the football pitch, to the school run.

Arthritis is inflammation of the joints. Typical signs are pain even at rest and at night, stiffness on waking that lasts more than 30 minutes, swelling, redness and a warm joint. Pain only after a long walk or a heavy day is a different picture and is more often mechanical wear. In a hilly city this distinction matters, because many people explain every ache by the slopes they climb daily and delay seeing a specialist.

Possible causes include autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, infections, gout and psoriasis. Each cause needs its own plan, so the first step is always a clear diagnosis, not the choice of a procedure. City Medical Centre coordinators help a patient in Kigali organise existing results and questions before a remote consultation, around the clock, on WhatsApp and Telegram.

Hills, steps and joints: what the landscape of Kigali means for you

Kigali lies in a region of rolling hills. The built-up area is spread across many ridges and valleys joined by steep slopes. The average elevation is 1,567 m above sea level, and the lowest valley areas lie at around 1,300 m. Anyone who lives here knows that a normal day often means climbing and descending slopes on foot, by motorbike taxi or by minibus, with steps at the end of the way home.

For a person with inflamed knees, hips, ankles or hands, this landscape is a daily load. Morning stiffness may make the first descent from the house slow and painful. Evening swelling may appear after a long day of walking between the districts of Nyarugenge, Kicukiro and Gasabo. Describing this rhythm to the doctor during the online consultation is valuable: which joint hurts on the way up, which on the way down, and at what time of day it is worst.

During recovery the same hills become a planning question. In the first days after a procedure it is sensible to arrange a home with few steps, to ask relatives to help with shopping, and to avoid steep walks until the treating doctor agrees. Planning this before the procedure is easier than improvising afterwards.

Climate of Kigali and recovery

Kigali has a tropical savanna climate, but its high elevation keeps temperatures cooler than is typical for equatorial countries. The average daily temperature ranges between 15 and 27 °C with little variation through the year. This mild range helps people who need to wear a dressing or a compression garment, because there is no extreme heat that makes it unbearable.

There are two rainy seasons, from February to June and from September to December, separated by two dry seasons. The major dry season runs from June to September, often with no rain at all. The shorter one is from December to February. The wettest month is April and the driest is July. Torrential rains have become more frequent, and this affects daily movement: wet slopes are slippery, and a patient with a painful or recently treated joint should be careful on wet paths and steps.

In the dry months dust on unpaved streets can irritate a small wound, so the puncture area should be kept clean and covered as the doctor instructs. In the rainy months the main concern is keeping dressings dry and not walking on slippery surfaces. Strong midday sun at this altitude is also worth remembering: protect a healing skin area from direct sun and ask the doctor how long this is needed. These are general points only; the individual plan comes from the treating doctor.

What SVF therapy involves and how it relates to arthritis

Patients in Kigali often ask what is actually done during the procedure. Under local anaesthetic, a small portion of adipose tissue (about 30 ml) is taken through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh. No stitches are needed. The material is then processed to obtain cells that the doctor may use as part of the treatment plan.

The medical facts for the hip are specific. At early stages (1–2), SVF therapy may be considered to support blood supply to the femoral head and delay the need for joint replacement. At later stages surgery is usually required. This is not a general promise for every joint or every type of arthritis. It is one option that may be discussed when the picture and the stage fit, and a doctor can judge this only after studying imaging and the history.

For this reason the remote consultation begins with the diagnosis, not with the procedure. If the cause is autoimmune, infectious, gouty or related to psoriasis, the underlying condition needs its own treatment and follow-up with the patient's local doctor. The online specialist tells the patient honestly whether the method may be considered at all, and if not, what other path is reasonable.

How the remote consultation works from Kigali

The consultation is free and online. A patient in Kigali writes to the coordinators on WhatsApp or Telegram, available 24/7, and describes the complaint in a few sentences. The coordinators then explain which documents are useful: previous X-rays or MRI images, blood test results, notes from local doctors, and a list of medicines taken.

Because the coordinators answer around the clock, there is no need to rearrange a work or study schedule. A message can be sent in the evening after work or early in the morning before classes, and photos of documents can be sent from a phone. This is practical in a young city where the mobile phone is the main everyday tool.

During the video or chat consultation the specialist asks about the history of the pain, the pattern of morning stiffness, any swelling or redness, family history and accompanying conditions such as psoriasis or gout. The patient receives an opinion on whether the case looks suitable for further discussion. No decision is made under pressure, and the patient is free to take time, consult the family and check the opinion with a local rheumatologist.

Work, study and sport during planning and recovery

Kigali is the economic and financial hub of Rwanda and its largest business centre. The service sector is the largest contributor to the city's economy, including retail, information technology, transport and hotels. Many patients therefore work seated at a desk, others stand for hours in shops and hotels, and others move around the city for transport. The type of work decides how the return to normal life is planned.

A desk worker may be able to resume light duties sooner than someone who stands all day or lifts goods. The exact timing is individual and must come from the doctor; nobody should simply copy the experience of a colleague. It is reasonable to talk to the employer in advance, arrange a lighter schedule for the first days, and keep the number of steps and slopes between home and work as low as possible.

Kigali also has a large student population, with institutions such as the Kigali Health Institute and several universities. A student with inflamed joints can plan the procedure around the academic calendar, avoiding examination weeks. For people who play sport, for instance football or running on the hills, the question of return to training should be asked directly: which movements are allowed, which are not, and how the doctor will judge readiness. Swimming pools and gyms should be used only after the doctor gives permission.

Food, family events and body weight

Kigali's cuisine is similar to that of the rest of Rwanda. Staple foods include bananas, plantains known as ibitoke, pulses, sweet potatoes, beans and cassava. Restaurants often serve a mélange, a self-service buffet that can include meat, chips or fish. Cassava leaves are cooked with onions into the stew isombe. In the evening, brochettes, usually of goat but sometimes tripe, beef or fish, are the most popular choice when eating out. Ikivuguto, a fermented milk, and urwagwa banana beer are popular drinks.

None of this needs to be given up because of arthritis, but patients with gout should ask their doctor about diet, since some foods and alcohol can affect gout. Patients with other types of arthritis can ask whether any dietary change is useful. After the procedure the patient should follow the instructions of the treating doctor rather than rely on rumours.

Family events, gatherings and long meals around a table are an important part of life in Kigali. They are often a reason to postpone treatment, because nobody wants to miss them. It is better to plan the procedure in a calmer period and tell relatives in advance that movement will be limited for a few days. Body weight is also worth discussing with the doctor, because extra weight loads the joints of the legs, and the WHO publishes general information about overweight and obesity.

Choosing the season and questions for the doctor

Because Kigali has little temperature variation, almost any month is acceptable from the point of view of heat. The more useful comparison is between the rainy and dry seasons. The dry months, especially June to September, are easier for walking on slopes and for keeping a dressing dry. In the rainy months, April being the wettest, wet steps and slippery paths are a real hazard for anyone with a painful joint. A patient may decide that a dry period is more comfortable, but medical need always comes before the calendar.

Questions worth preparing for the online doctor: What is the exact type of arthritis in my case? At what stage is my joint? Is SVF therapy something that may be considered, or is another treatment more appropriate? What is the role of my local rheumatologist before and after? Which medicines should I continue or stop? When can I return to work, to study and to sport? Which signs after the procedure require an urgent message to the coordinators?

It is also reasonable to ask what is not known yet. Responses to such treatment differ between people, and the doctor should explain that clearly. A good consultation leaves the patient with a clear understanding of the options and no pressure to decide immediately.

Who may be a candidate and who should be careful

In general terms, the method is discussed for patients whose joint problem fits the medical picture described above, especially a hip joint at early stages (1–2), where the aim is to support blood supply to the femoral head and delay the need for joint replacement. A patient at a later stage usually needs surgery, and the consultation will say so plainly instead of offering false hope.

Caution is needed in several situations. An active infection, an acute flare that has not been diagnosed, or unclear causes of swelling and redness need to be investigated first. Autoimmune conditions, gout and psoriasis require treatment by the appropriate local specialist, and the online doctor will ask about these. Patients who take blood-thinning medicines, have bleeding problems or have a serious chronic illness should say so at once, because it influences whether a puncture under local anaesthetic is suitable.

The patient's own decision is central. Anyone in Kigali who is unsure should keep their local doctor informed, ask for the opinion in writing if needed and compare it with the advice they already have. The coordinators are available 24/7 for follow-up questions before and after the consultation.

Is the consultation really free for patients in Kigali?

Yes. The online consultation is free. You write to the coordinators on WhatsApp or Telegram, send your documents and receive an opinion from a specialist without leaving your home or workplace.

When can I contact the coordinators?

The coordinators are available around the clock, 24/7, on WhatsApp and Telegram. You can write in the evening after work, early in the morning or at the weekend.

Which documents should I prepare?

Useful items are previous X-rays or MRI images, blood test results, notes from your local doctor, a list of medicines you take, and a short description of when the pain started and how it changes during the day.

How do I know that my pain is arthritis and not simple wear?

Typical signs of arthritis are pain even at rest and at night, stiffness on waking that lasts more than 30 minutes, swelling, redness and a warm joint. Only a doctor can make the diagnosis, so the first step is an examination and tests.

What causes arthritis?

Possible causes include autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, infections, gout and psoriasis. The cause decides the treatment, so it must be clarified before any procedure is considered.

What happens during the procedure?

Under local anaesthetic, a small portion of adipose tissue (about 30 ml) is taken through a puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh. No stitches are needed.

Can SVF therapy replace joint surgery?

Not in every case. At early stages (1–2), SVF therapy may be considered to support blood supply to the femoral head and delay the need for joint replacement. At later stages surgery is usually required. The doctor judges this individually.

Do the hills of Kigali matter for recovery?

Yes, in practical terms. Kigali is built across ridges and valleys joined by steep slopes, so it is wise to plan a home with few steps, ask for help with shopping and avoid steep walks until the doctor agrees.

Does the weather in Kigali affect healing?

Temperatures are mild, between 15 and 27 °C on average, so heat is rarely a problem. In the rainy seasons keep dressings dry and avoid slippery paths. In dry and dusty periods keep the puncture area clean and covered as instructed, and protect the skin from strong sun.

When can I return to work, study or sport?

This depends on your job, your joint and the doctor's assessment. Discuss it in the consultation: a desk job usually differs from work that needs standing or lifting. Do not return to sport or the pool until the doctor gives permission.