Poly-L-Lactic Acid Threads Versus Platelet-Rich Plasma for Post-Traumatic Atrophic Scars (PLLA-PRP PTAS)

August 15, 2026 updated by: Nesrin Sabry, Tanta University

A Comparative Study of Poly-L-Lactic Acid Threads Versus Platelet-Rich Plasma, Both Combined With Subcision, in the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Atrophic Scars

This study compares the efficacy and safety of poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) threads versus platelet-rich plasma (PRP), both combined with subcision, in the treatment of post-traumatic atrophic scars. Patients with post-traumatic atrophic scars were allocated to either a single session of subcision followed by PLLA thread insertion or four monthly sessions of subcision combined with PRP injection. Clinical improvement, patient satisfaction, adverse effects, and histopathological changes were assessed during a 3-month follow-up period.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Post-traumatic atrophic scars result from abnormal healing following skin injury and may cause significant cosmetic and functional impairment. Subcision releases the fibrous bands tethering the scar to deeper tissues and may improve the response to additional treatments. PLLA threads are biodegradable materials that can stimulate collagen production, while PRP contains concentrated platelets and growth factors that may enhance tissue repair and remodeling.

This comparative study was conducted at the Dermatology and Venereology Department, Tanta University Hospital. Patients diagnosed with post-traumatic atrophic scars for at least one year and who had not received treatment during the preceding six months were enrolled. Patients with keloids, immunosuppression, coagulative or thrombophilic disorders, or chronic diseases were excluded.

Participants were divided into two equal treatment groups. Group A received a single session of subcision followed by insertion of poly-L-lactic acid threads. Group B received subcision combined with PRP injection for four sessions at one-month intervals. Clinical photographs were obtained before treatment and three months after treatment. Clinical improvement was assessed by two blinded dermatologists using the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale, while patient satisfaction and treatment-related complaints or adverse effects were also recorded.

Skin biopsies were obtained from six patients before treatment and three months after treatment and evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin and trichrome staining to assess histopathological changes. All patients were followed for three months.

The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, with approval number 32889/01/19, and informed consent was obtained from all participants.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
48

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Egypt
      • Tanta, Egypt
        • Tanta University Hospitals

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with post-traumatic atrophic scars. Scar duration of at least 1 year. No treatment received during the previous 6 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Keloids Immunosuppression Coagulative disorders Thrombophilic disorders Any chronic diseases

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: subcision and PLLA threads
subcision and PLLA threads' insertion at the same session
Procedure: subcision and PLLA threads' insertion
subcision and PLLA threads' insertion at the same session
Active Comparator: PRP and subcision (PRP-S) injection
PRP and subcision (PRP-S) injection monthly for four sessions
Procedure: PRP and subcision (PRP-S)
PRP and subcision (PRP-S) injection monthly for four sessions

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) score
Time Frame: 3 months after treatment
Clinical improvement of post-traumatic atrophic scars was assessed using the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale by two dermatologists blinded to the treatment group. The scale was graded from 1 to 4: Grade 1 = mild/no improvement (0-25%), Grade 2 = moderate improvement (26-50%), Grade 3 = marked improvement (51-75%), and Grade 4 = excellent improvement (>75%).
3 months after treatment

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Tanta University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
February 6, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
August 21, 2023

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
August 31, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 15, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 15, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 20, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
August 20, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 15, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 32889/01/19

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings