Comparison of platelet-rich fibrin and povidone-iodine in the treatment of chronic cutaneous ulcers in Port Harcourt, Rivers State

Ijeoma Onwuagha 1, Kingsley Okechukwu Opara 2 and Victor Abhulimen 1, *

1 Department of Surgery, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
2 Department of Surgery, Imo State University, Orlu, Nigeria. 
 
Research Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2023, 18(01), 235–256
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjarr.2023.18.1.0508
 
Publication history: 
Received on 18 February 2023; revised on 02 April 2023; accepted on 04 April 2023
 
Abstract: 
Background: Patients with chronic skin ulcers undergo several wound dressing protocols to achieve wound healing. Povidone iodine and Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) are agents that can be used to accelerate tissue healing and cell regeneration. This study aims to compare the effects of both agents on chronic cutaneous ulcers. 
Materials and method: The study was a prospective study carried out at the outpatient clinic of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Ethical approval was sought and obtained from the hospital’s ethical committee.  Half of the patients with chronic cutaneous ulcers were dressed with PRF, while the other half were dressed with povidone-iodine.  Each of the groups was followed up for 8 weeks. The data were recorded on a proforma, entered in Microsoft Excel 2010 and analyzed with Epi-info version 7.02.
Results: The presence of infection and slough were commoner in the cutaneous ulcers treated with povidone-iodine with statistically significant values.  The PRF group showed earlier signs of re-epithelialization. The PRF group attained higher frequencies for evidence of healthy granulation tissue early in the study period, with more ulcers healing before the eighth week.  The wound dimensions reduced more speedily in the PRF group. The majority of the patients in the I group experienced more pain during dressing changes.
Conclusion: Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) conferred superior healing capabilities to the chronic cutaneous ulcers of the patients studied despite their varying aetiologies in comparison to povidone-iodine. 
 
Keywords: 
Platelet Rich Fibrin; Povidone iodine; Chronic cutaneous ulcers; Wound healing, pain; Epitheliazation, wound contraction
 
Full text article in PDF: 
Share this