The Effect of Platelet Rich Plasma Dressing on Healing Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Abstract

Background Some of the studies confirmed the effectiveness of platelet rich plasma (PRP) in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). However, these studies had small sample size and used different methods such as PRP gel or PRP injections. The results are also contraversial. Objectives This study aimed to investigate the effect of PRP dressing on healing of DFUs. Patients and Methods A randomized, controlled trial was conducted on 50 patients with DFUs referred to Kashan’s Shahid Beheshti hospital. Patients were randomly allocated to control (n = 25) and experimental (n = 25) groups. Data collection instrument consisted of two checklists; one for gathering demographic information and the other one included questions about ulcer characteristics and its treatment. After surgical debridement, ulcers depth and surface area were measured. Then, the ulcers of the control group were irrigated and dressed with sterile gauzes. However, in the intervention group, ulcers were dressed with sterile gauzes impregnated with PRP. Ulcers depth and surface area of all ulcers were measured on the days 0, 7, 14 and 21 after debridement. Independent-samples t-test, Mann–Whitney U and repeated measures analysis of variance were used to analyze data. Results At baseline, the mean ulcer depth were 15.08 ± 10.43 and 19.08 ± 14.01 mm in the control and intervention groups, respectively (P = 0.26), which decreased to 13.03 ± 14.1 and 4.560 ± 5.76 after three weeks (P = 0.04). Moreover, the mean ulcer surface area were 14.17 ± 8.52 and 12.791 ± 14.86 mm2 in control and intervention groups respectively (P = 0.69), which decreased to 11.88 ± 13.65 and 2.68 ± 5.94 after three weeks (P = 0.03). Conclusions PRP dressing could significantly decrease the depth and surface area of DFUs in a three-week period.