Year: 2026 | Month: April | Volume: 16 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 130-142
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20260418
Effectiveness of Platelet-Rich Plasma Gel Versus Conventional Dressings in the Management of Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Systematic Review
Abhishek Prasad1, Aditya Awati2, Sai Sharan3
1Assistant Professor, Department of General Surgery, MR Medical College, Kalaburagi, Karnataka, India.
2Assistant Professor, Department of General Surgery, ESIC Medical College, Kalaburagi, Karnataka, India.
3Senior Resident, Department of General Surgery, ESIC Medical College, Kalaburagi, Karnataka, India.
Corresponding Author: Abhishek Prasad
ABSTRACT
Background and Aims: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a serious complication of diabetes mellitus, frequently leading to delayed healing, infection, and amputation. Conventional dressings constitute standard management; however, Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) gel has been proposed as a regenerative therapy to accelerate wound healing. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Platelet-Rich Plasma Gel compared with conventional dressings in promoting healing of diabetic foot ulcers.
Methods: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and Google Scholar) were systematically searched from 2015 to 2025 using Boolean operators (“AND,” “OR”) and MeSH and free-text terms including “Platelet-Rich Plasma,” “Diabetic Foot,” “Diabetic Foot Ulcer,” "Conventional Dressings," “Wound Healing,” and “Bandages.” Randomized controlled trials and comparative observational studies evaluating autologous PRP gel versus conventional dressings in adults with DFUs were included. Two reviewers independently performed study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment.
Results: Ten comparative studies were included. PRP demonstrated significantly greater wound contraction (34.42%±2.52 vs 13.52%±2.55; p<0.001), higher healing rates (86.11% vs 63.89%; p=0.029), and shorter mean healing duration (10.90±3.40 vs 13.48±3.37 weeks; p=0.01) compared with conventional dressings. Healing efficacy defined as ≥50% wound reduction was higher with PRP (88.71% vs 67.74%; p=0.0034). Mean time to heal was reduced (11.17±2.73 vs 13.78±1.66 weeks; p=0.012), and wound size at 90 days was smaller (0.61±1.20 cm² vs 1.58±1.55 cm²; p=0.021). One study reported no significant difference when PRP was combined with total-contact casting (p>0.05).
Conclusion: Platelet-Rich Plasma Gel appears more effective than conventional dressings in enhancing healing outcomes in diabetic foot ulcers. PRP accelerates wound contraction, increases complete healing rates, and reduces healing duration, supporting its role as a promising adjunctive therapy. Further large-scale trials are warranted.
Key words: Platelet-Rich Plasma; Diabetic Foot; Diabetic Foot Ulcer; Wound Healing; Bandages.