Platelet-Rich Plasma versus Conventional Saline Dressing in the Healing of Chronic Leg Ulcers: A Non-Randomised Comparative Clinical Study

Background

Chronic leg ulcers cause prolonged morbidity and impaired quality of life, and many fail to heal with conventional care. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), an autologous platelet concentrate rich in growth factors, has been proposed as a regenerative adjunct to accelerate healing. Aims/Objectives: To evaluate the effect of PRP on the healing of chronic leg ulcers and compare its outcomes with conventional saline dressing. Methodology: In this non-randomised comparative clinical study, 126 patients with chronic leg ulcers of more than three months' duration were allocated equally to a PRP group (n=63; weekly autologous double-spin PRP with standard care) and a standard-care group (n=63; saline dressing). Allocation was not randomised: eligible patients were enrolled consecutively and assigned alternately, in order of presentation, to the two groups. Wound size, healing time, pain (visual analogue scale, VAS), granulation-tissue quality and satisfaction were assessed weekly. Categorical and continuous variables were compared using Pearson's chi-square test or Fisher's exact test and the independent-samples t-test, respectively, with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for between-group mean differences (p<0.05 significant).