Effects of platelet-rich plasma on healing of sphincteroplasty: An experiment in rabbit model

Inability to manage of stool release, fecal incontinence, is a condition with sever negative effects on the patients’ quality of life. Use of platelet-rich plasma in healing of anal sphincter might improve outcomes. The current study investigated the healing effects of PRP application after surgical repair of sphincter in rabbits as an animal model for human studies.

Twenty-four New Zealand rabbits were randomly allocated into 4 groups based on the time of healing at one and three weeks after sphincteroplasty and using of PRP. Sphincterotomy and then sphincteroplasty were performed in all animals and autologous PRP was prepared and used as dose as 0.5 ml per animal. The healing scores of sphincter were compared between four groups using histological scoring system.

The histological healing score in PRP used group was significantly higher than not PRP used group after one week (18.6 ± 0.8 vs. 13.0 ± 1.8 respectively, P = 0.01) but no significant difference was detected between healing score of PRP used and not PRP used groups after three weeks (19.0 ± 0.0 vs. 18.5 ± 0.8 respectively, P = 0.17).

Our findings indicated that although PRP had an accelerator role in wound healing of sphincter repair, but it has not significant effects over time especially after 3 weeks.