Cord Blood Platelet Gel as a Treatment of Occipital Pressure Injuries in Newborns: Report of Two Cases

Background: A Pressure Ulcer (PU) is a severe event and could create discomfort to newborns. In newborns, one of mostly stricken location by PU is occipital area. Recent studies have highlighted that Cord Blood Platelet Gel (CBPG) might be a better alternative compared to traditional treatment. We report two cases of occipital PU treated with CBPG. Case report: Two male infants showing occipital PU were treated with standard local treatment, but no improvement was observed. After parental informed consent was obtained, CBPG application on PU was performed every 48 h. In these two cases of PU, a fast improvement in healing was observed since the first application of CBPG. The PU healed resulted in a scar after 53 and 50 days (Case 1 and Case 2, respectively) from development. No complications or infections were reported. Conclusions: CBPG contains many angiogenetic and growth factors, these characteristics make it indicated in treating soft tissue injuries. It would seem to be safe and an effective treatment of neonatal PUs reducing the time of the healing and the hospitalization and the infectious risks. Further studies are needed to evaluate long term aesthetic and functional results of PU treated with CBPG.

Evaluation of the role of platelet gel in promoting healing of phalangeal fractures after fixation by Kirschner wires

Background Autologous Platelet gel may become an ideal autologously prepared biologic blood-derived product that can be exogenously applied to a diversity of tissues, in which it releases high concentrations of platelet growth factors that enhance healing. Aim of the Work to evaluate the role of platelet gel in promoting healing in phalangeal fractures. Patients and Methods This study was conducted on 20 Patients were operated either by general or local anesthesia in a prospective interventional study for: evaluation the role of platelet gel in promoting healing of phalangeal fractures after fixation by Kirschner wires. Results In this study: clinical and radiographic signs of healing at 12wks were achieved in 70% of studied patients and 16wks were achieved in 30% of studied patients and early improvement of swelling and tenderness. Conclusion The use of Autologous platelet gel in phalangeal fractures after fixation by Kirschner wires gives a significant improvement quickly over the periods according to swelling, tenderness and x-ray healing So decrease recovery time and return to work and activities.

Platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases of lower extremities

Objectives to evaluate the effectivenes of platelet-rich plasma preparations in the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases of lower extremities. Material and methods. The study involved patients hospitalized in the Research Institute S. V. Ochapovsky Regional Clinic Hospital No.1, Krasnodar, with trophic ulcers and chronic osteomyelitis. The patients received injections of platelet-rich plasma as platelet lysate and/or platelet gel. Results. The study involved 19 patients with trophic ulcers of the lower extremities with a duration of more than 2 months. Previously, the patients had underwent therapy without effect. In all cases, the patients received a complex of therapeutic measures, including debridement, dressing, conservative treatment, physiotherapy, antibiotic therapy. In the presence of large ulcers, 8 patients underwent autodermoplasty with complete engraftment. It has been noted that during platelet-rich plasma use the average healing time was 6-7 weeks. Four patients were observed with chronic osteomyelitis. During operation, the bone cavity was filled with platelet gel. The postoperative period was uneventful in all cases. The maximum observation period was 1.5 years. No recurrence of osteomyelitis was detected. Conclusion. The results of the study demonstrate the positive effects of platelet-rich plasma products use.

The role of the cord blood platelet gel in the management of a diabetic foot with tendon exposure

Diabetic foot infection is frequent in diabetic patients and is due to neuropathy, trauma or peripheral arterial disease. The presence of an abscess requires urgent drainage and specific antibiotic therapy. Patients with critical limb ischemia need revascularization and, subsequently the intervention of a plastic surgeon is often required in cases of exposure of tendons and ligaments. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a patient was refered to our department with an abscess on the dorsum of the left foot. After urgent drainage with tendon exposure, he started specific antibiotic therapy and underwent tibial vessels angioplasty. After infection healing cord blood platelet gel was applied, accelerating the healing process, with injection of its liquid part into the exposed tendons, thus retaining the vital functions of the tendons.

Autologous Platelet Gel (APG): A Preliminary Evaluation of the Mechanical Properties after Activation with Autologous Thrombin and Calcium Chloride

The tensional and mechanical behavior of regenerative components, grafts, and blood clots represent an essential condition for the success of bone regeneration protocols. Autologous platelet growth factors represent a useful protocol to enhance the soft and hard tissue healing in several fields of medicine and craniofacial surgery. Different protocols for blood concentrates with and without activation have been proposed in literature. The aim of the present study was to investigate in vitro the mechanical properties of autologous platelet gel (APG) with autologous thrombin and calcium chloride. Materials and Methods: A total of 20 APG samples were evaluated; 10 samples were activated by autologous thrombin and calcium chloride (Group I) and 10 samples were non-activated (Group II). The tensile strength and modulus of elasticity were calculated through a static loading test (Lloyd 30 K, Lloyd Instruments Ltd., Segensworth, UK). Results: Group I (activated) reported a tensile strength of 373.5 ± 14.3 MPa, while Group II showed a significantly lower value of of 360.5 ± 16.3 MPa (p < 0.05). The Young’s modulus was 145.3 ± 10.4 MPa for Group I and 140.3 ± 15.3 MPa for Group II (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The effectiveness of the present in vitro simulation showed that the APG activation protocol is able to increase the mechanical characteristics of the blood derivates and could be clinically useful to enhance regenerative procedures.

Selection Criteria of Cord Blood Units for Platelet Gel Production: Proposed Directions from Hellenic Cord Blood Bank. Comment on Mallis et al. Short Term Results of Fibrin Gel Obtained from Cord Blood Units: A Preliminary in Vitro Study. Bioengineering 2019, 6, 66

This article provides additional knowledge for cord blood platelet gel (CBPG) production. Recently, it has been shown that CBPG exerts beneficial properties in wound healing applications. CBPG is produced after a two-step centrifugation process, following the addition of calcium gluconate. Clinical-grade CBPG can be produced in public cord blood banks, worldwide. However, standardization of the CBPG production process must be established in order to reduce discrepancies that occurred due to different platelet gel preparations. This article aims to provide an update regarding the selection criteria of cord blood units (CBUs), and to provide evidence for the improvement of the CBPG production process. (Comment on “Short Term Results of Fibrin Gel Obtained from Cord Blood Units: A Preliminary in Vitro Study” Bioengineering 2019, 6, 66).