Efficacy of Autologous Platelet Gel Versus the Regular Dressing in Epithelialization and Wound Reduction in Chronic ulcers of the lower Limb”- a Randomized Control trial at KLES’ Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital and MRC, Belgaum.

Abstract

Background and objectives: ABSTRACT There are various modalities of treatment in treating chronic ulcers. One of them being the use of platelet derived growth factors. It is shown that chronic ulcers are deficient in growth factors. On application of these factors over the ulcer, the wounds healed faster. This study was conducted to test the efficacy of autologous platelet gel prepared from patients own blood in epithelialization and wound size reduction of chronic ulcers of lower limb. Methods: This randomized control study was done for a period of one year. 40 cases were randomized into two groups. Study group ( PDGF grp) received autologous platelet gel as ulcer dressing and control group ( NS grp) received normal saline dressing. Dressings were done on day 1, 4, 7, 10, 14. The wounds edges were traced over a graph sheet to estimate the size reduction. Results: mm 2 At the end of the study the mean reduction in ulcer size was 463.50 + 249.40 in the group treated with PDGF and 609.10 + 334.8 mm ix 2 in the group treated with NS, which was statically significant. The study shows that the reduction achieved in ulcer size was ( 206.80 + 119.09 mm mm 2 2 ) in PDGF grp and ( 120.15 + 71.00 ) NS grp which is statistically significant ( P= 0.0118) . The percentage of area reduction was ( 30.56 + 6.67) in PDGF and ( 16.76 + 3.49) in NS with P value being 0.0001. Conclusions and interpretation: PDGF showed faster and better healing rates. In individual subgroups like ulcers due to diabetes mellitus, venous ulcers, and pressure sores there was more than 10% better healing rate compared to the conventional dressing except for ulcers secondary to peripheral vascular disease. Ulcers of peripheral vascular disease etiology did not show significant decrease in either group. There were no adverse effects of PDGF application.