The objective of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of external rectus sheath turnover flap (ERF) with and without platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for reconstruction of large scrotal hernia in rams. A total of 13 baladi rams suffered from large sized unilateral voluminous scrotal swellings were studied. All rams were randomly allocated into two groups according to the type of surgical interference; group ERF (n=6) were subjected to surgical correction by external rectus sheath turnover flap while group ERF-PRP (n=7) were subjected to surgical correction by ERF with PRP. The scrotal hernia was successfully corrected, and the graft turnover procedure was easily carried out in all rams. Clinical assessment of pain and heat in ERF-PRP depicted the lowest score at all time points compared to ERF group. Hematological analyses showed significant changes in white blood cells, neutrophil, lymphocytes, eosinophils, basophils count, serum amyloid A, haptoglobin, tumor necrosis factor-α and interlukin-1β in ERF-PRP group (lower) when compared to ERF group at days 3 and 7 postoperative. Ultrasonographic examination of all rams in the ERF and ERF-PRP groups showed that the graft was fixed and correctly positioned. Ultrasound color doppler recorded higher vascularity in ERF-PRP in the form of a high-color signal at the margins of turnover flap at days 7, 21 and 35-days post-operative. Conclusively, autologous grafting with ERF, is a simple performance procedure, with low cost impact and low expected complications. ERF-PRP's showed dominance over the ERF and could be used as a novel autologous composite for reconstruction of large scrotal hernia in ram. |
