Treatment of chronic wounds with PRP therapy
When wounds fail to heal for weeks or months, they can place a considerable burden on patients. People with diabetes are particularly at risk of wounds healing more slowly or failing to heal completely. Persistent wounds can lead to infections and other complications, some of which can be life-threatening, such as sepsis. In severe cases, amputation may become necessary. For this reason, the certified Wound Care Center at Helios Hospital Krefeld, which also includes a certified diabetic foot clinic, uses a treatment approach that relies on a particularly valuable resource: the patient’s own blood.
How the patient’s own blood supports healing
PRP stands for “Platelet-Rich Plasma.” For the treatment, a small amount of blood is drawn from the patient and then centrifuged. The resulting concentrate contains a high concentration of platelets and the body’s own growth factors. When applied directly to the affected areas, these components stimulate the body’s natural healing processes, new tissue formation, and cell regeneration. Supported by numerous scientific studies, this approach has become an integral part of the comprehensive and individualized treatment and prevention strategy at Helios Hospital Krefeld.
“Chronic wounds cause considerable suffering and can significantly reduce patients’ quality of life. This is why evidence-based, gentle therapy combined with modern wound care and regular interdisciplinary follow-up is particularly important,” explains Dr. Ahmad Tabrisi, plastic surgeon and Head of the Dermatosurgery Section. “Because PRP therapy uses the patient’s own biological material, it is well tolerated and can be readily integrated into the overall treatment plan. For many of our patients, this method is an important component of treatment, helping to accelerate healing, prevent complications, and make it easier to return to everyday life.” Dr. Tabrisi adds that PRP could be described as a kind of “natural healing booster.”
Collaboration for safe wound healing
Chronic wounds are complex conditions that require interdisciplinary expertise and careful wound management. It is essential to accurately diagnose their causes and the underlying physiological factors and to treat them in a targeted manner.
To achieve this, specialists in dermatology, angiology, vascular surgery, plastic surgery, and diabetic foot care work closely together. To ensure a comprehensive assessment of each case, the interdisciplinary wound care team discusses the individual challenges affecting wound healing and determines the next steps in treatment.
Wound care specialists — specially trained healthcare professionals who manage acute and chronic wounds — coordinate the care process and ensure that the prescribed therapies are implemented in a targeted manner.
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