The use of autologous platelet-rich plasma gel increases wound healing and reduces scar development in split-thickness skin graft donor sites

The treatment of donor sites after split-thickness skin grafting (STSG) is a routine operation step, and complications at the donor site due to improper operation and care are unwelcome. This study evaluates whether the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) applied at the STSG area promotes wound healing and improves scar development. Clinical data of 30 patients who underwent STSG operations between January 2016 and January 2017 for various reasons were retrospectively analyzed. These 30 patients received two treatments and the data were summed up in two groups: the PRP group, which was the study group, included patients who received traditional petrolatum gauze dressing with PRP gel at the donor sites. The petrolatum gauze group, which was the control group, received only petrolatum gauze care without PRP gel. The time and frequency of dressing change were comparable between the two groups, and the mean wound healing times in the PRP group and petrolatum gauze group were 13.89 +/- 4.65 and 17.73 +/- 5.06 days, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). In addition, the total Vancouver scar scale (VSS) scores of the PRP group at 4, 12 and 52 weeks were 6.41 +/- 0.77, 4.42 +/- 0.43 and 2.41 +/- 0.39, respectively, which were statistically significantly lower (p < 0.05) than those of the control group at 7.67 +/- 0.64, 6.28 +/- 0.62 and 4.29 +/- 0.64, respectively. The use of PRP gel can promote wound healing, relieve scar development and alleviate pain at the donor site after STSG.