The Use of Platelet-Rich Plasma for Storage of Surplus Harvested Skin Grafts.

[BACKGROUND] There is a need for improved methods and storage media to sustain the tissue viability of autologous skin grafts.

[OBJECTIVE] To compare histological changes in human skin grafts stored in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) with those of grafts stored in saline.

[METHODS] Eight circular, 3-mm full-thickness skin graft samples were harvested from the abdominal skin of each of 5 patients scheduled to undergo an abdominoplasty procedure. Four of these graft samples were stored in saline, and the other 4 were stored in saline mixed with PRP prepared from the patient's own venous blood. Histological assessment of the microscopic appearance of the samples was performed on days 5, 8, 11, and 14. The integrity of the epidermal-dermal junction, number of keratinocytes with perinuclear halos, collagen organization, and number of fibroblasts per field were assessed. The cellular apoptosis rate was also measured on these same days.

[RESULTS] On day 5, significant differences were observed microscopically between the PRP- and saline-stored grafts ( < .05). The grafts preserved in saline exhibited early marked cellular and nuclear swelling with pleomorphism, as well as early nuclear halo formation. The cell viability rate of the PRP group was significantly higher than that of the saline-stored group on day 8 ( < .05).

[CONCLUSION] Platelet-rich plasma and its inherent growth factors supported longer graft survival; however, its effect lasted only until day 8. Platelet-rich plasma may be beneficial if grafts need to be stored for delayed application(s).