The effect of locally infiltrated platelet-rich plasma on survival of skin flaps in degloving injuries

Abstract

Background: Partial- or full-thickness necrosis is normally encountered complication postoperatively in skin flap patients. The chief causes of necrosis are reduced arterial flow, venous insufficiency, or both. Particularly, necrosis of the skin flap occurs in the more distal portion of the flap, if arterial or venous flux insufficient. The other factors owing to the necrosis of skin flap are qualitative and quantitative deficiency of local growth factors (GFs) and lack of regulation of various GFs. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is the concentrate of plasma prepared by serial centrifugation and contains high concentrates of platelets. It is rich in various GFs which are essential for wound healing. Materials and Methods: Six patients were included in the study. All the patients had traumatic degloving injuries of lower limbs. After primary cleaning and closure of the flaps, from postoperative day 1, all the flaps were infiltrated with autologous PRP infiltration according to STARS therapy till the wounds healed. Results and Observations: All the wounds healed completely with PRP. PRP sessions required ranged from 4 to 7 with an average of 5.4. There was no need of any additional procedure for wound healing such as serial debridements and skin grafting in any of the patients. Two patients required additional procedures for associated fractures which involved K-wire removal and amputation of the fifth toe. Complications such as infection, abscess, or sinus formation were not seen in any of the patients. After suture removal, the mean ± 2 standard deviation total wound area was 31.5 ± 17.6 cm2, mean necrotic area was 7.75 ± 5 cm2, and mean surviving area was 23.75 ± 13.8 cm2. The mean percentage survival of the flaps was 75.119%. This value is comparable with other studies. Conclusion: In our study, it was found that local autologous PRP infiltration in the skin flap of degloving wounds according to the STARS therapy increases the chances of survival of flap.