Efficacy of Local Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Treatment of Pressure Ulcer in Spinal Cord Injury Patients

Cureus, 2021 · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.18668 · Published: October 11, 2021

Simple Explanation

This study investigates the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in treating pressure ulcers in patients with spinal cord injuries. Pressure ulcers are common and can negatively impact a patient's health and rehabilitation. PRP is compared to hydrogel dressing, a common treatment, to see which is more effective in healing these ulcers. The study involved 52 patients with spinal cord injuries who had grade III or IV pressure ulcers. The patients were divided into two groups: one received hydrogel dressings, and the other received PRP treatment. The ulcers were monitored over six weeks, and various measurements were taken to assess healing. The results suggest that PRP is a potentially better alternative to traditional hydrogel dressings for treating pressure ulcers. While both treatments showed improvement, PRP showed significantly better results in certain healing parameters, particularly epithelization and neovascularization.

Study Duration

October 2017 to March 2019

Participants

52 patients of SCI having pressure ulcers of grade III/IV

Evidence Level

Level 2: Randomized interventional study

Key Findings

1
Both PRP and hydrogel dressing significantly reduced the surface area and volume of pressure ulcers over the study period.
2
PRP treatment resulted in significantly better epithelization (skin regeneration) compared to hydrogel dressing.
3
PRP treatment showed significantly better neovascularization (formation of new blood vessels) compared to hydrogel dressing.

Research Summary

This study evaluated the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) compared to hydrogel dressing in treating pressure ulcers in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. The study included 52 SCI patients with grade III/IV pressure ulcers randomized into two groups. The results indicated that both PRP and hydrogel dressing led to significant improvements in ulcer surface area, volume, and PUSH score. However, PRP showed a significant improvement in epithelization, granulation, and neovascularization compared to the hydrogel group. The study concludes that PRP is a possible and better alternative to conventional dressing methods for treating pressure ulcers in SCI patients, warranting further investigation with a larger sample size.

Practical Implications

Enhanced Wound Healing

PRP can be considered as a more effective treatment option for pressure ulcers in SCI patients, promoting faster and better healing outcomes.

Improved Patient Outcomes

The use of PRP may lead to reduced healing times, lower healthcare costs, and improved quality of life for SCI patients with pressure ulcers.

Clinical Practice

Clinicians should consider incorporating PRP therapy into their treatment protocols for pressure ulcers in SCI patients, especially when conventional methods are not yielding satisfactory results.

Study Limitations

1
Only sacral pressure ulcers were included in the study, limiting the generalizability to other anatomical locations.
2
The sample size was limited.
3
The investigators were not blinded to the treatment modality.

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