Cotton gauze piece as a safety shield for scalp platelet-rich plasma injections: Small step, big protection

PROBLEM

In platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections of the scalp, especially among novice practitioners, sudden spray-back of the solution can occur if the needle is not firmly anchored or if unexpected tissue resistance is encountered [Video 1].

Such spray-back can:

• Contaminate the injector’s face, eyes, or hands

• Pose occupational exposure risks to blood products

• Interrupting the procedure reduces the efficiency and causes delays.

SOLUTION

A simple, cost-free modification to the injection technique effectively prevents spray-back: Place a sterile cotton gauze piece near the needle entry site before injecting. The gauze piece acts as a barrier, absorbing any escaping fluid while maintaining visibility of the injection site. Advantages include [Video 2]:

• Enhanced safety for the injector, practitioners have reported better control during injection

• No added equipment cost

• Easy to learn

• Ease of adoption into standard PRP protocols, even for beginners.

The existing safety practices used to prevent leakage of PRP include the use of luer-lock syringes, wearing double gloves, protective eyewear, disposable gowns, and the use of absorbent pads, use of supports like pillows, and headrests to reduce mobility and prevent jerks.

In conclusion, the cotton gauze piece safety shield offers a simple, cost-free solution to prevent spray-back during scalp PRP injections. By placing a sterile swab over the injection site, practitioners enhance safety, reduce contamination risks, and maintain efficiency. This easy, effective technique ensures safer, cleaner, and more reliable PRP procedures, especially for beginners. This technique can also be utilized for intralesional injections into the tough tissues, e.g., keloids, hypertrophic scars, warts, hypertrophic lichen planus, and prurigo nodularis.