A study of effectiveness of platelet rich plasma in the healing of trophic ulcers

Neuropathic ulcers or trophic ulcers present a huge challenge to health care due to their very poor response to treatment. We dermatologists come across many patients with trophic ulcers secondary to Hansen's disease, which pose a great degree of disability and incapacitation to the patients. The search for therapeutic options enhancing quicker healing of trophic ulcers continues and our study aims at establishing the role and efficacy of platelet rich plasma (PRP) in ulcer healing. The autologous PRP prepared from one's own blood by the process of centrifugation and platelet activation, on application to the wound, directly introduces growth factors and cytokines, thereby restoring the metabolic process, neoangiogenesis, and improvement of cellular metabolism and activation of local immunity [1]. Materials and methods: Objective: The primary objective of our study was to determine the role and effectiveness of PRP in the healing of trophic ulcers. The secondary objectives were to study the rapidity of healing with respect to the ulcer site, size, associated motor deformities, type of leprosy and platelet concentration in the prepared PRP.