Effect of platelet-rich plasma on pressure ulcers after spinal cord injury / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Studies have reported that platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can promote accelerated healing of pressure injury. OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of PRP on pressure injury of patients with spinal cord injury. METHODS: From July 2017 to December 2019, 40 patients with spinal cord injury complicated by stage 3 and stage 4 pressure ulcers were randomly divided into a PRP group (n=20) and a control group (n=20) using a random number table. Patients in the control group were given routine wound care and standardized rehabilitation treatment, whereas those in the PRP group received PRP treatment based on routine wound care and standardized rehabilitation treatment once a week. The surface area, wound type and exudate volume were assessed by pressure ulcer scale for healing (PUSH) before treatment and 2, 4, 6, 8 weeks after treatment. The total PUSH score, score of each item in the PUSH scale, and clinical efficacy were compared between the two groups. An ethical approval was obtained from the Biomedical Ethics Committee of West China Hospital of Sichuan University, with an approval No. 2019(622). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The total PUSH score and scores in terms of wound area, type, and exudate volume were significantly reduced after treatment in the PRP group (P < 0.01), while those scores in the control group were also significantly reduced at 6 and 8 weeks after treatment (P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the total PUSH score and scores on exudate volume were significantly lower in the PRP group at 4, 6, and 8 weeks after treatment, and the scores on wound type were significantly lower in the PRP group at 6 and 8 weeks after treatment. The healing rate in the PRP group was 100% after treatment, which was significantly higher than that in the control group (35%; P < 0.001). These findings indicate that PRP treatment contributes to the recovery of pressure injury in patients with spinal cord injury.