Joint Inflammation Treatment in Zagreb
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
No surgery — an injection instead of an operation
Own tissue — your blood and adipose tissue
Ultrasound guidance for every injection
Free consultation
and review of your scans
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.
PRP and SVF can lessen inflammation and pain and back up the tissues in the joint, but systemic disease remains the rheumatologist's job. The procedure is skipped while there is an active joint infection or a severe flare, and the doctor first confirms the form of arthritis before choosing when to proceed.
No surgery — an injection instead of an operation
Ultrasound guidance for every injection
Free consultation and review of your scans
Joints we treat
From large joints to small ones — which joint, which method and how many injections is decided by the doctor once your scans are reviewed
Elbow
Wear on the joint surfaces and pain after overuse or sports strain
Hand and wrist joints
Stiffness and pain in the small joints of the fingers and wrist
Knee
Cartilage that has worn, meniscus trouble, pain after walks and on stairs
Hip
Early hip osteoarthritis, groin pain, limited rotation
Ankle
Pain and stiffness after sprains and old injuries
Shoulder
Wear of the joint and the tendons around it, pain on raising the arm
Methods we use
Cell therapy (SVF) from your own adipose tissue
SVF, or stromal vascular fraction, is a mix of cells involved in tissue repair, isolated by processing a small amount of your adipose tissue. It is combined with plasma from your own blood and injected into the affected joint.
For inflammatory arthritis it is applied after the acute flare has calmed, because of its effect on local inflammation and on tissue repair.
PRP — platelet-rich plasma from your own blood
The joint receives plasma rich in platelets and growth factors, separated from a small amount of your own blood. It helps inflammation settle and creates better conditions for the tissue to repair.
As a single element of the wider plan, it can be advised in rheumatoid and other inflammatory arthritis.
How the procedure goes: step by step
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 PRP
A vein provides a small amount of blood, which is later used to prepare platelet-rich plasma rich in growth factors.
The doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed.
Adipose tissue sample
A puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh, local anaesthetic and about 30 ml of adipose tissue taken — the site needs no stitches.
Processing in a centrifuge
Centrifuging the sample separates it into layers, after which the stromal vascular fraction is isolated and mixed into the platelet-rich plasma.
The whole procedure is done in one day.
Injection into the joint
Using ultrasound guidance to place it precisely, the prepared material is injected directly into the joint that is affected.
Follow-up
You go without crutches or a hospital stay, while the doctor keeps in touch after the procedure and follows the joint's response.
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 PRP
A vein provides a small amount of blood, which is later used to prepare platelet-rich plasma rich in growth factors.
The doctor tells you in advance which tests are needed.
Adipose tissue sample
A puncture on the abdomen or inner thigh, local anaesthetic and about 30 ml of adipose tissue taken — the site needs no stitches.
Processing in a centrifuge
Centrifuging the sample separates it into layers, after which the stromal vascular fraction is isolated and mixed into the platelet-rich plasma.
The whole procedure is done in one day.
Injection into the joint
Using ultrasound guidance to place it precisely, the prepared material is injected directly into the joint that is affected.
Follow-up
You go without crutches or a hospital stay, while the doctor keeps in touch after the procedure and follows the joint's response.
Follow-up visits
At follow-up visits the doctor sees how the joint is responding and adjusts the plan. Pain usually eases in the first month, mobility improves over about three months, and the full effect builds over around six months.
Conditions we treat
Whether the treatment suits you is decided by a doctor after an examination and a review of your scans
What we work with
Arthritis
Arthrosis
Avascular necrosis
Osteoarthritis
Gonarthrosis (knee osteoarthritis)
Coxarthrosis (hip osteoarthritis)
Meniscus pathology and injury
Rehabilitation after injuries and surgery
Inflammatory joint conditions
Contraindications
Cancer
Pregnancy
Blood clotting disorders
Acute infections, including infection in or near the joint
Flare-up of a serious chronic illness
Cancer
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Serious heart, kidney or liver disease
Temporary contraindications: skin inflammation over the target joint, or a fever, a cold or flu
Book a consultation
Call or message us —
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
Book a consultation
Call or message us —
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
After the procedure
Most people are home the same day and back to their usual routine within a day or two, the puncture sites covered with small dressings. The joint may ache a little more during the first week, as expected. Over the first month the pain usually eases, over about three months mobility and activity improve, and the full effect builds over around six months. How long it holds varies individually with the stage of the condition, body weight, activity and other factors, so no fixed result can be promised. If a rheumatologist treats you, do not drop your prescribed medication without consulting them.
Why patients choose City Medical Centre
Your own joint stays: we work on keeping it rather than replacing it — treatment without surgery
Your own tissue
No donor material and nothing synthetic: just your own blood and adipose tissue
No crutches
Punctures in place of incisions, under local anaesthetic, without a long rehabilitation
Second opinion
For a free, independent doctor's assessment, send us your X-rays, MRI or reports
Support after the procedure
After the procedure we keep in touch and follow the result, not only the day of the injection
Arthritis treatment prices
Cost varies with the joint, the arthritis type and the method, so it is named by the doctor after the consultation
Service
Price
Book a consultation
Call or message us —
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
Book a consultation
Call or message us —
our coordinator will contact you shortly
and book your consultation
Joint treatment: frequently asked questions
What is arthritis and what are its symptoms?
In arthritis the joints are inflamed. People usually notice pain at night and at rest, stiffness in the morning that lasts more than 30 minutes, swelling, and redness and heat over the joint. It can be caused by autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, by infections, by gout or by psoriasis.
Can PRP help with rheumatoid arthritis?
For rheumatoid and other types of inflammatory arthritis, PRP may be used to help reduce swelling, pain and local inflammation; the growth factors platelets release influence the immune response and tissue repair. It complements the treatment from your rheumatologist but does not replace it.
Can psoriatic arthritis be cured?
Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic disease that currently cannot be cured completely. The goal is a long remission — keeping inflammation under control and preventing joint deformity — and regenerative injections can be one part of that plan.
How does SVF work in autoimmune arthritis?
SVF brings cells able to modulate the immune response in the joint and to support repair of damaged tissue. This is an area of ongoing research, so expect the doctor to discuss realistic outcomes for your type of arthritis.
When is the treatment not suitable?
It is not done during an active infection of the joint, a severe flare, pregnancy, cancer or blood clotting disorders; instead the doctor postpones the procedure or proposes another option.
How is knee arthritis different from osteoarthritis?
Knee arthritis is an inflammation, driven by an autoimmune reaction, infection or gout, that shows as redness, warmth, marked swelling and tenderness to the touch. Osteoarthritis means worn cartilage and usually presents as aching pain and a dry crunch on movement.
Why does an arthritic joint hurt even at rest?
In an inflamed joint the pain receptors are stimulated all the time — during movement, at rest and at night. This pain can be eased by treatment aimed at reducing the inflammation, such as PRP and SVF.
Can joint injections be done during pregnancy?
No. Joint injections, among them PRP and SVF, are contraindicated in pregnancy. Arthritis care during pregnancy is decided only together with an obstetrician and a rheumatologist.
Can I get a second opinion on my tests and scans?
Yes. A doctor looks at your X-rays, MRI, ultrasound or blood tests free of charge and says whether regenerative treatment could suit your type of arthritis — simply send them.
What happens if rheumatoid arthritis is not treated?
Without treatment the condition can leave the joint permanently deformed, cause loss of function and osteoporosis, and damage internal organs like the heart, lungs and kidneys; timely treatment prevents these complications.
City Medical Centre licences
Other services at our clinic
Arthritis in Zagreb: types, methods and price
Without treatment, rheumatoid arthritis can lead to permanent joint deformity, loss of function and damage to internal organs. Timely treatment matters for every patient in Zagreb.
Pain usually eases over the first month, and mobility improves over about three months. For patients from Zagreb, the full effect develops over around six months, and its duration differs from person to person.
How much does arthritis treatment cost in Zagreb? The doctor names the price after confirming the type of arthritis and choosing PRP, SVF or a combination. Send a request or message us in any messenger.
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