Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Fibrin in Non-Healing Ulcers: An Interventional Study

Gitartha Boruah, Krishna Talukdar, Nilutpal Bhattacharjee, Minakshi Narah, Pallabi Hatikakoty, Satyendra Singh6, Moon Das
Author(s)
1Junior Resident, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, Jorhat Medical College and Hospital, Jorhat, Assam, India. 2Professor and HOD, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, Jorhat Medical College and Hospital, Jorhat, Assam, India. 3Professor, Department of Surgery Jorhat Medical College and Hospital, Jorhat, Assam, India. 4Assistant professor, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy Jorhat Medical College and Hospital, Jorhat, Assam, India. 5Senior Resident, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, Jorhat Medical College and Hospital, Jorhat, Assam, India. 6Junior Resident, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, Jorhat Medical College and Hospital, Jorhat, Assam, India

Abstract

Background: Chronic non-healing ulcers are difficult to manage and may persist despite standard wound care. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is an autologous biomaterial that may promote tissue repair through sustained growth-factor release. The objective is to evaluate the efficacy of PRF in chronic non-healing cutaneous ulcers of different etiologies. Material and Methods: This prospective single-arm interventional study included 30 patients with 44 ulcers; 42 ulcers with evaluable follow-up were analyzed. Autologous PRF was applied weekly for up to 6 weeks. Outcomes included complete re-epithelialization, serial ulcer-volume reduction, number of dressings, infection-related discontinuation, recurrence, and response according to ulcer etiology. Results: Complete re-epithelialization occurred in 38/42 ulcers (90.5%; 95% CI, 77.9%ā€“96.2%) after a median of 3 dressings. All healed ulcers closed by the sixth dressing. Hansen disease-associated trophic ulcers achieved 95.8% healing. Healing status and number of dressings did not differ significantly across etiologies. Infection-related treatment abandonment occurred in 3 ulcers (7.1%), and recurrence was recorded in 6/39 evaluable ulcers (15.4%). Conclusion: Weekly autologous PRF was associated with rapid healing and a high re-epithelialization rate across varied chronic ulcer etiologies, although infection and recurrence remained important concerns.

Keywords: Platelet-rich fibrin; chronic ulcer; wound healing; re-epithelialization; Hansen disease.

Outline