Benefits of platelet rich plasma (PRP) treatment on skin autografts and allografts in a burned patient

Abstract

Wound healing is promoted by a series of growth factors, secreted from the alpha granules of the platelets. Platelet rich plasma (PRP) emerged as a clinical strategy to increase the physiologic concentration of platelets and its clinical use for a large spectrum of disorders is reported, with good results. Extensive burns represent a promising field for PRP use, those patients confronting challenging wound healing and poor long-term results. We present our initial clinical experience represented by a case of a 51-year-old male patient, severely burned, who benefited from sequential surgical treatment of deep burn wound excisions and coverage using autologous and allogenic skin grafts. PRP was added to this patient’s therapy in two stages, being injected and externally applied on the autografts in functional areas of the hands and the right upper arm region where both autografts and allografts were placed, with the exciting result of promoting allograft integration, long-term persistence and healing. Several literature data validate successful clinical applications of PRP in various therapies, including treatment of soft tissue injuries and chronic wounds, orthopedic surgery, burns, maxillo-facial surgery and elaboration of tissue-engineered products. Based on our preliminary experience and favourable reports in the literature, we encourage wider use of platelet rich plasma for immunomodulation and tissue-engineered constructs, due to its effects on local inflammatory response and role in enhancing the integration of various types of tissue grafts.