A randomised trial in 30 split-thickness skin-graft patients compared injectable platelet-rich fibrin plus paraffin gauze with paraffin gauze alone. Mean complete epithelialisation time was identical at 11.9 days and epithelial thickness did not differ significantly. A single I-PRF application showed no benefit under these conditions.
Key findings
- Mean age was 50.7 ± 18.7 years and 63.3% were male. Complete epithelialisation took 11.9 ± 2.6 versus 11.9 ± 2.7 days (p=0.851). Mean epithelial thickness was 208 ± 110 versus 197 ± 118 in the abstract's reported units, also non-significant (p=0.698).
Why this matters globally
Platelet products are widely used despite mixed wound evidence. A null randomised result helps counter publication bias and supports decisions based on comparative outcomes rather than biological plausibility alone.
Thai researcher contribution
Buriram Hospital conducted a pragmatic patient trial and transparently reported a negative result, informing resource use and wound care in Thai services.
Limitations to consider
Only 30 patients from one centre were studied, so small effects may be missed. The abstract does not fully clarify blinding, whether randomisation was patient- or split-wound-based, or measurement details. Only one application was tested, without pain, infection, scarring, cost or assessor-time outcomes.