Management of Leg Ulcers Using Combined PRP Therapy on a Nanofiber Carrier: Results of a Pilot Study

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY Population aging is connected with an increased incidence of chronic diseases. A common related problem is chronic skin ulcers, which, while not life-threatening, can significantly decrease the quality of the patient's life. The present study aims to evaluate new materials and methods to improve and accelerate the treatment of leg ulcers. MATERIAL AND METHODS Twenty-five patients with chronic ulcers treated using autologous growth factors applied on a nanofiber carrier were included in the cohort. The control group consisted of 15 patients treated using standard moist wound therapy. The surface area of the ulcer was measured on the 0th, 14th, 28th, 56th, 84th, 112th, 140th, 140th, and 168th day of treatment. Ulcer depth was measured on the 0th, 5th, 28th, 84th, and 168th day of treatment. Results were statistically processed and evaluated. RESULTS During the study, the defect area decreased in both the control and experimental group. Statistically significantly better results were observed in the experimental group relative to the progress of ulcer depth. The experimental group also had more healed ulcers. DISCUSSION Moistness is necessary for chronic wounds to heal; it is needed to ensure optimal cell growth, angiogenesis, and fibrinolysis. Wounds can be treated using non-active dressings with high absorption qualities; however, these do not guarantee optimal conditions for healing, or wounds can be treated with an interactive dressing that interacts with the wound surface. The third option for treatment is the use of bioactive materials that adhere to the wound and participate directly in the individual stages of healing. CONCLUSIONS The study found that autologous growth factors had statistically significant effects on the treatment of chronic ulcers. The authors believe that this method can accelerate the healing of primary post-injury or secondary postoperative wounds of lower leg soft tissues. Key words: trophic ulcer, autologous growth factors, microangiopathy, polyneuropathy, diabetes mellitus.