European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Introduction: One of the major complications of varicose veins is the non-healing ulcer of the leg. The traditional treatment for this is regular dressing, foot end elevation with appropriate antibiotics and local application of silver-based ointments. The gold standard treatment for these patients is surgery (Trendelenburg surgery with or without venous striping and subfascial perforator ligation and endovenous procedures). Surgeons usually reach a crux when a patient develops persistent ulcers which does not heal even after all these efforts.
Aim: Our objective in this study was to study the effects of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) in chronic non-healing post-surgical venous ulcers.
Methodology: This was a case control study with 40 patients conducted over 2019 and 2020, after institutional ethical clearance. All patients were treated with appropriate antibiotics prior to the study and obtained a culture negative status. PRP was separated and injected locally into the borders of the ulcer in cases, while controls were given regular dressings with silver-based ointments.
Results: We found that patients who were given PRP had a significantly faster healing rate and a lower infection rate.
Conclusion: Hence PRP can be safe, effective and reasonably cost effective in treating post-surgical venous ulcers.