title: Platelet-rich plasma reduces skin flap inflammatory cells infiltration and improves survival rates through induction of angiogenesis: An experiment in rabbits.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on flap survival in an experimental rabbit model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Symmetrical rectangular dorsal cutaneous flaps (8 × 2 cm) were elevated in 15 rabbits. The rabbits were randomly divided into a 3-day group (n = 5), a 7-day group (n = 5), and a 14-day group (n = 5). Either side of the dorsum was selected for injection of PRP into the flap basal surface, while the other side received an equal volume of saline as a control. The flaps were immediately sutured back, after which the flap survival was measured and histology specimens were collected at 3, 7, and 14 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Platelet-rich plasma significantly improved flap survival rates of the PRP side flaps relative to the control in the 3-day (74.4% ± 4.7% vs 65.8% ± 6.8%; p < 0.05), 7-day (72.4% ± 7.5% vs 58.5% ± 7.0%; p < 0.05), and 14-day (74.5% ± 5.0% vs 65.0% ± 5.4%; p < 0.05) groups. Histological analysis revealed significantly fewer inflammatory cells and an increased blood vessel density in the platelet-rich plasma side flap vs the blank control side flap.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) promotes the survival of random rabbit flaps and, therefore, represents a promising treatment to prevent skin flap necrosis in reconstructive and plastic surgery.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery , the 175th Hospital of PLA, Affiliated Southeast Hospital of XiaMen University , Zhangzhou , Fujian , PR China.
authors.forename: Biao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: a Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery , the 175th Hospital of PLA, Affiliated Southeast Hospital of XiaMen University , Zhangzhou , Fujian , PR China.
authors.forename: Qiuhua
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.affiliation: a Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery , the 175th Hospital of PLA, Affiliated Southeast Hospital of XiaMen University , Zhangzhou , Fujian , PR China.
authors.forename: Junling
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: a Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery , the 175th Hospital of PLA, Affiliated Southeast Hospital of XiaMen University , Zhangzhou , Fujian , PR China.
authors.forename: Jianchuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.affiliation: a Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery , the 175th Hospital of PLA, Affiliated Southeast Hospital of XiaMen University , Zhangzhou , Fujian , PR China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ruan
authors.affiliation: a Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery , the 175th Hospital of PLA, Affiliated Southeast Hospital of XiaMen University , Zhangzhou , Fujian , PR China.
authors.forename: Jiansheng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis; D006085:Graft Survival; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
keywords: Platelet-rich plasma; neovascularisation; skin flap; survival rate