Role Of Autologous Platelet Rich Plasma In Management Of Chronic Wounds

BACKGROUND: Prevalence of chronic non healing wounds in the world ranges from 1.9 to 13.1%. It is expected to increase as the population is getting old. It is estimated that almost 10% of the population would develop a chronic wound with a wound related mortality rate of 2.5%. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of platelet rich plasma (PRP) in chronic wound healing.METHODS: Forty patients of either sex, 28 patients (70%) were males and 12(30%) were females with a mean age of 45.7 years, presented with chronic wounds of more than 6 weeks duration either diabetic, venous or traumatic wounds in nature were included in our study. Patients with ABI<0.9, infected wounds and uncontrolled diabetic patients were excluded. Under aseptic precautions, platelet rich plasma (PRP) was prepared. PRP was used by either local injection in the wound edges or as a soaked dressing "non absorbable dressing with paraffin gauze."RESULTS: In 40 patients, 34 wounds (85%) were due to diabetes. 5 wounds (12.5%) were venous ulcers and in only 1 patient (2.5%) the wound was traumatic in nature. Pretreatment wound area was 4.5 +/- 5.8 and after the 6th session of injection it had become 1 +/- 2.1 which showed wound area reduction by 77.8% with highly significant difference as P value <0.001.CONCLUSIONS: PRP promotes the healing of previously chronic non healing ulcers. PRP seems to have a beneficial effect on different wound etiologies.