Does Prolotherapy Have an Effect on the Care of Pressure Injuries? a Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: This study contributes to wound healing with prolotherapy in people with pressure injuries. The study was planned and conducted as a randomized controlled trial to determine the effect of prolotherapy on the care of pressure injuries. Methods: The study was carried out with patients with pressure injuries in the intensive care unit of a city hospital between April and June 2023. A power analysis was performed, and the sample size was calculated as 20 patients, including 10 in the intervention and 10 in the control group. The patients in the experimental group were given wound care with gelofusine as prolotherapy in the morning and evening for three days, and the injury site was covered with a sterile sponge and fixation tape. The patients in the control group were treated with saline in the morning and evening for three days. In both groups, the wound width, depth, and length were measured and evaluated prior to each intervention for three days. Results: In the study, a significant difference was found between the mean ages of the participants in the experimental and control groups (p < 0.05). The decrease in width measurements in the experimental group was found to be statistically significant compared to the previous measurements, while the increase in width measurements in the control group was significant compared to the previous measurements (p < 0.05). Depth measurements decreased statistically significantly in the experimental group, while they increased significantly in the control group compared to previous measurement values (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, it was determined that the administration of gelofusine for pressure injuries as prolotherapy in the experimental group may be more effective in wound healing than saline treatment applied in the control group. Further studies are warranted.