The Use of Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Scoping Review

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been recognized as a method of treatment in medicine since the 1980s. It primarily functions by releasing cytokines and growth factors that promote wound healing; these growth-promoting factors released by PRP enact new processes such as angiogenesis, collagen deposition, and tissue formation that can change wound-healing outcomes. Many studies recognize that PRP aids in chronic wound healing, which is advantageous for patients who suffer from chronic diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). This scoping review aims to examine the literature to identify the efficacy of PRP use in the healing of DFUs. The objective of this study is to explore whether PRP has a beneficial effect on healing completeness and the rate of healing on DFUs. Following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, we searched randomized-controlled trials involving PRP use in diabetic patients with foot ulcers using PubMed, Medline, CINAHL Complete, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. We restricted the search to articles published during 2005-2022, full texts in the English language, articles involving patients aged 19 years or older, articles that used PRP specifically on DFUs, articles that included a control group, and articles with human subjects. The initial search yielded 119 articles after removing duplicates. The final analysis for relevance yielded eight articles. In seven of the eight studies, the PRP group showed significant results, with either faster healing, more complete healing, or a larger percentage of healed participants. In the one study that did not give conclusive evidence of accelerated healing with PRP, PRP was used as an adjunct to fat grafting and only used once. Application styles of PRP for treatment were shown to influence the level of healing in patients, with injected PRP appearing to achieve the best results compared to topical PRP application. However, this was not conclusive due to the involvement of several other variables. Two studies additionally found PRP to be useful in healing refractory DFUs, and one study found that PRP use in patients with additional comorbidities was still more effective in healing DFUs than standard wound control. This study used scoping review methodology with randomized-controlled trials to examine the literature regarding PRP use in the healing of DFUs. The evidence suggests that PRP is a useful tool in reducing healing times and improving rates of complete wound healing in DFUs. There is room for further research in the application styles of PRP before conclusive statements can be made on the efficacy of injected versus topical PRP healing, based on the findings in this study. The results of this review provide a baseline for further research on PRP use in patients with diabetes and can be used by physicians and public health experts to guide future treatment options for DFUs.