Abstract:Objective To investigate the effects of autologous platelet-rich gel (APG) combined with vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) on wound healing process and levels of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in patients with deep second-degree burns.Methods Eighty-two patients with deep second-degree burns treated in Nantong Third Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University from July 2018 to July 2021 were selected and included in the study. They were randomly divided into observation group (APG combined with VSD treatment) and control group (VSD treatment) via random number table method, with 41 cases in each group. The therapeutic efficacy, time to wound healing, area of granulation, wound healing rate, length of hospital stay, and incidence of complications were compared between the two groups. The differences of the levels of EGF, bFGF, C-reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), white blood cell count (WBC), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores before and after the treatment, and those of Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) scores 1 month and 2 months after the treatment were compared between the two groups.Results The overall effective rate of the observation group was higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the time to wound healing and length of hospital stay were shorter, the area of granulation was larger, and the wound healing rate was higher in the observation group (P < 0.05). The differences of the levels of EGF, bFGF, CRP and IL-6, and of WBC before and after the treatment in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The difference of VAS scores before and 14 days after the treatment and that of VSS scores 1 month and 2 months after the treatment in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the overall incidence of complications between the two groups (P >0.05).Conclusions For treating deep second-degree burns, APG combined with VSD accelerates the wound healing process, increases the levels of EGF and bFGF, mitigates inflammation and pain, and reduces hypertrophic scars with few complications.