Nicolas Batum Has Platelet Rich Plasma Injections to Heal Knee Injury

According to Joe Freeman of The Oregonian, Portland Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum's knee injury may not be as simple as it first seemed, either in extent or treatment. Batum has reportedly received two rounds of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections to help the knee heal.

According to a source with knowledge of Batum's injury and treatment, the Trail Blazers' starting small forward spent last Monday in a Vancouver doctor's office receiving two rounds of PRP injections in his right knee. The nonsurgical procedure, which first became well known in Portland during the Brandon Roy era, is a process that involves extracting a patient's blood, running it through a centrifuge -- which separates red blood cells from platelets -- and re-injecting the resulting fluid into the injured area, in this case Batum's right knee.

The story also offers this cryptic tidbit:

A source close to Batum said his injury isn't simply a right bone contusion, though the source could not state exactly what the ailment is. That said, there are no concerns about the long-term health of his knee and Batum is on pace to return to the starting lineup Friday, when the Blazers host the Chicago Bulls at the Moda Center.

PRP treatment was made famous when Kobe Bryant and Alex Rodriguez traveled to Germany to receive experimental versions.

You can find further details on PRP injections in this video:

Update: This from the Trail Blazers

Need some good news? Nic Batum was back on the court today. #RipCity

— Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) November 19, 2014

--Dave blazersub@gmail.com / @DaveDeckard / @Blazersedge