Use of Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma to Treat Hypertrophic Burn Scars

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Status and phase: Terminated; Phase 2

Conditions: Hypertrophic Scar

Treatments: Biological: PRP Injection; Drug: Saline Injection

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03935594

IRB #190170

Details and patient eligibility

About

Hypertrophic burn scars are experienced by more than 70% of burn victims. They are a major source of decreased quality of life in burn patients due to pain, decreased range of motion, and poor cosmetic appearance. Current treatment strategies (including fat grafting and laser resurfacing) are either highly invasive, prohibitively costly, or painful. Autologous Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) does not require anesthesia, and is an inexpensive, safe, fast, and less painful alternative that has been recognized for its role in reducing scars associated with acne, among other things. While PRP has not been studied specifically in burn scars, there is sufficient theoretical and practical evidence that it will improve the appearance and feel of these debilitating scars, representing a large potential benefit for these patients with minimal associated risk.

Full description

Severe burn injury is associated with hypertrophic scarring, which occurs in up to 70% of burn patients (Finnerty et al., 2016). Burn scars are particularly troublesome because they cause debilitating neuropathic pain and itch, joint contractures and stiffness that limit range of motion, inability to sweat, and physical disfigurement of cosmetically sensitive areas such as the hands and face.

Autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is plasma with a higher concentration of platelets, and is prepared by drawing up a small amount of a patient's blood, centrifuging it, and collecting the platelet-rich layer. Many automated machines exist for doing this process. Platelets contain a multitude of growth factors and other small molecules that have been shown to promote wound healing and tissue regeneration in a variety of contexts. PRP, which is rich in these healing growth factors, has been studied extensively and has proved to be both a safe and effective treatment modality for a wide range of applications, including acne scars and hair loss (Elghblawi et al., 2018). It has been shown to be a safe and effective treatment for some types of surgical and traumatic scars, and has been safely applied to acute burn wounds where it has been shown to improve healing and subsequent scarring (Venter et al., 2016). Despite these known uses of PRP, its role in reducing the extent and severity of mature hypertrophic burn scars after they have already healed is notably lacking in the literature.

The purpose of this study is to assess whether intradermally-injected autologous platelet-rich plasma improves the size, texture, color, elasticity, contour, and neuropathic pain associated with mature burn scars.

Specific Aims:

1. Compare the effectiveness of intradermally-injected autologous platelet-rich plasma versus normal saline (NS) to improve burn scars, as measured by both clinician-reported (Vancouver scar scale; VSS) and patient-reported measures (Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale; POSAS).
2. Compare the effectiveness of intradermally-injected autologous platelet-rich plasma versus normal saline as a control to improve neuropathic pain associated with burn scars.
3. Understand the mechanism of action of PRP in improving burn scars via histological analysis of collagen content in the burn scar tissue biopsy specimens.

Enrollment: 3 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 70 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Hypertrophic burn scar present on trunk or abdomen

Exclusion criteria

• Initial burn injury less than 1 year old
• History of chemical or electrical burn
• Genetic or acquired conditions that severely affect systemic wound healing or collagen formation (vasculitis, diabetes, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, radiation therapy to the scar site or use of immunosuppressive medications within the last year, active cancer)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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3 participants in 2 patient groups

PRP injection right half

Experimental group

Description:

The scar to be treated will first be wiped with an alcohol swab, then measured and marked out with a marking pen such that the entirety of the scar will fit into a symmetric ellipse that is drawn, and the ellipse is filled entirely with the scar tissue. A ruler will be used to measure the scar in its greatest horizontal span, and the midway point will be marked with a vertical line. A coin flip will determine if the PRP injection (the experimental half) will be on the right half of the scar (as opposed to the left half). The half of the scar that will not receive PRP will be the control half. After finishing the VSS and POSAS, the area inside the control half of the ellipse will then be subdivided with a marking pen into 1cm x 1cm square boxes, with the plan of injecting 1mL normal saline into each 1 square cm box at 0 months, 1 month, 4 months, and 6 months. Punch biopsies from each scar will be will be obtained at both six months and one year from enrollment.

Treatment:

Biological: PRP Injection

Drug: Saline Injection

PRP injection left half

Experimental group

Description:

The scar to be treated will first be wiped with an alcohol swab, then measured and marked out with a marking pen such that the entirety of the scar will fit into a symmetric ellipse that is drawn, and the ellipse is filled entirely with the scar tissue. A ruler will be used to measure the scar in its greatest horizontal span, and the midway point will be marked with a vertical line. A coin flip will determine if the PRP injection (the experimental half) will be on the right half of the scar (as opposed to the left half). The half of the scar that will not receive PRP will be the control half. After finishing the VSS and POSAS, the area inside the experimental half of the ellipse will then be subdivided with a marking pen into 1cm x 1cm square boxes, with the plan of injecting 1mL PRP into each 1 square cm box at 0 months, 1 month, 4 months, and 6 months. Punch biopsies from each scar will be will be obtained at both six months and one year from enrollment.

Treatment:

Biological: PRP Injection

Drug: Saline Injection