Platelet-rich Plasma Improves Healing of Pressure Ulcers as Objectively Assessed by Digital Planimetry

The effectiveness of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in chronic wounds remains controversial.

The aim of this prospective study is to objectively assess the impact of PRP therapy on pressure ulcer (PU) healing utilizing digital planimetry.

Eligible patients included those with PUs with a surface area ⟩ 1 cm2 and ⟩ 3 months' duration. Each ulcer initially was debrided surgically. The patient then was advised to continue conventional treatment for 4 weeks, after which time repeat debridement was performed as needed. Subsequently, PRP was applied and the patient was observed for an additional 4 weeks. During the 8-week study period, the treatment's effectiveness was assessed weekly with digital planimetry. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare continuous variables.

Thirty-six patients (22 men, 14 women) with a median age of 62 years (range, 38-88 years), who had 64 PUs with an initial median surface area of 20 cm2 (range, 1 cm2-180 cm2), a median diameter of 6.3 cm (range, 1.3 cm-18.6 cm), and a median circumference of 16.8 cm (range, 4 cm-68 cm) were included. Reduction of median surface area (63% vs. 41%), median maximal diameter (33% vs. 20%), and median circumference (38% vs. 21%) were significantly (P ⟨ .001) greater after PRP treatment compared with after conventional treatment.

It appears treatment with PRP accelerates healing of PUs as objectively measured by digital planimetry. Compared with conventional treatment, a significantly higher reduction in surface area, diameter, and circumference of PUs was observed following application of PRP.