Comparative Evaluation of Bilateral Earlobe Cleft Repair with and Without Platelet Rich Plasma Injection- In vivo Randomized Study.

Unlabelled: Earlobe clefts have been the major concern for aesthetic repair in the present situation. The advent of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for enhancement of healing has never been treated for cleft earlobe repair. This study aims to compare and evaluate the efficacy of wound healing with and without platelet-rich plasma injection in bilateral earlobe cleft lobe repair. 50 patients presenting bilateral earlobe cleft were selected for this study. Earlobe repair (cross-stitch technique) was performed under local anaesthesia using 5-0 prolene sutures. On one side platelet-rich plasma was injected intra-dermally. Patient was followed up after 24 h, 8 and 15 days post-operatively for evaluation of pain and scar respectively. Statistically significant/highly significant difference seen for the values between the groups ( < 0.01, 0.05) with higher values at 8 days for group without PRP while lower values for the group with PRP, at 15 days higher values of Stony Brook Scar Evaluation Scale (SBSES) was seen for group with PRP, while lower values for the group without PRP. ELC repair using cross-stitch technique and intradermal PRP injection intra-operatively is a simple, cost effective method and gives good aesthetic results. It also promotes the healing and reduces the chances of scar formation. Length, contour and integrity of the earlobe is also maintained by this technique and this research for the first time in literature proves that such a large sample has been found effective in ELC repair with PRP.

Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-024-05158-w.