Role of Platelet Rich Plasma in Accelerating the Healing Rate of Diabetic Foot Ulcer

Abstract

FU (diabetic foot ulcer) represents a major socioeconomic and health problem as well as its psychological sequel. Worth-noting, over 85% of lower extremity non-traumatic major amputations are preceded by DFU that represent a 15 times rate higher than in non-diabetics. Multiple factors play a role in wound healing which include: diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, vasculitis syndrome, and aging. Though, some wounds may remain irresponsive to the usual conventional treatment, i.e. dressings, surgical debridement and even skin grafting as these modalities are unable to support these wounds with growth factors (GF) needed to modulate the healing process. Researches contributed with novel wound therapies like growth factor products, negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), maggot therapy, bioengineered tissue or skin substitutes, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy to assist the healing process in this recalcitrant armamentarium. Among these hopeful tools, autologous platelet rich plasma (PRP) is considered an inexpensive method in treating non healing ulcers as they are considered as a source for growth factors that can enhance wound healing. Various research studies have suggested a therapeutic potential of externally applied GFs in patients with impaired wound healing generally by achieving better healing rates, reducing ulcer volume and area, and decreasing time to complete healing. This is a prospective randomized controlled study that was conducted in Ain shams University, vascular surgery unit including 30 patients complaining of DFU and presented to us between June 2019 to December 2019 to assess the role of activated platelet rich plasma in accelerating the healing rate of non-ischemic DFU. Patients were classified into two groups: Group A: Patients were treated with a novel modality i.e.: PRP injection in the healing edge and the floor of the targeted ulcer.