Efficacy of platelet-rich plasma on wound healing in rabbits.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to evaluate if the healing of full-thickness skin wounds was accelerated by platelet-rich plasma (PRP).


METHODS
Four 2.5 x 2.5-cm full-thickness skin wounds were created on the backs of 15 New Zealand white rabbits. One wound on each animal received 0.3, 0.6, or 0.9 ml PRP, and the fourth wound served as a control. Seven and eight animals were sacrificed after 1 or 2 weeks, respectively, to determine histomorphometrically the epithelialization rate, contraction rate, healing rate, tissue fill, and volume fractions of fibroblasts, neutrophils, macrophages, and blood vessels.


RESULTS
Only the 0.6- and 0.9-ml groups had significantly lower contraction rates than the controls after 2 weeks (P <0.05). Although no statistically significant differences were found in other parameters between the PRP-treated wounds and the controls, the PRP treatment led to increases in average epithelialization rates and volume fraction of blood vessels at both time periods. The PRP also seemed to have the most positive effect on healing rate, tissue fill, and volume fraction of fibroblasts during week 1 compared to week 2.


CONCLUSIONS
The PRP treatment enhanced healing in full-thickness wounds by reducing the contraction rate with a trend toward acceleration of the epithelial migration and the angiogenic response. Further studies with larger sample sizes should be conducted to improve statistical sensitivity. Longer time intervals and modifications of PRP volume should also be explored to evaluate the long-term efficacy of PRP on wound healing.
Lee
Hung-Wen
HW
Department of General Dentistry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan. hwlee2000@hotmail.com
Reddy
Michael S
MS
Geurs
Nicolaas
N
Palcanis
Kent G
KG
Lemons
Jack E
JE
Rahemtulla
Firoz G
FG
Ho
Kang-Jey
KJ
Chen
Dung-Tsa
DT
Davis
Cara R
CR
Feldman
Dale S
DS
D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000473:pathology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma / Q000502:physiology; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology