Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

Introduction: People tend to get injured, leading to wounds with losses of multiple tissues including skin, subcutaneous tissue, btendons and bones. There effective management is a complex process, but the outcomes many a time remain unpredictable. The complications involve further tissue loss, infections, and non-healing ulcers leading to huge morbidity. Throughout the world large resources have been spent, consuming billions of dollars, towards manage these wounds and lessen the morbidity. A simple therapy for effective wound management if evolved will transform this health problem and save lot of sufferings.

Aim: To study an ideal solution for wound management led by regenerative medicine product.

Method: The “Sandeep’s Technique for Assisted Regeneration of Skin” (STARS) is a therapy for complete healing of wounds with autologous self activated platelet rich plasma (PRP), imparted as local subcutaneous infiltrate in the wound margin or underneath the necrotic flap, on every 4th day till complete regeneration takes place and wound heals. The wounds were dressed daily/alternate day with only moist saline. It is a prospective case series study of 75 wounds associated with problems such as compound fracture, amputations, infections, post surgical necrotizing flaps treated with STARS, at Acharya Vinobha Bhave Rural Hospital, J N Medical College, Wardha, India.

Findings: The final outcome was complete/near complete healing of all the wounds without requiring any surgical or intense medical intervention, with a near normal skin including sole, with minimum of scar just like primary healing.

Interpretation: The STARS technique for PRP led wound healing in acute wounds is a safe, easily reproducible and widely accessible way of treating even complex wounds. It can be imparted in a very standard manner across the entire health care centre from territory to primary, without any risks. It needs just a little training towards PRP preparation and a low cost centrifuge machine. The results are predictable and good quality wound healing is ensured with control of infection and Pain. It obviates the need for surgical, medical interventions and intense local care. STARS may be the turning point in the history of wound management. A regenerative product (autologous PRP), is being used widely and easily, to overcome one of the largest problem of the humans; hoping to bring relief to millions who continue to suffer because of affordability and accessibility of expert health care. It is single, simple, affordable and effective therapy for wound management, just as an ideal treatment should be.