Objective: This study histomorphometrically analyzed the effect of autogenous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on healing of fresh frozen bone allograft (FFBA) placed in surgically created critical-size defects (CSD) in rat calvaria.
Methods: 30 rats were divided into 3 groups: C (control), FFBA and FFBA/PRP. A 5 mm diameter critical-size defect was created in the calvarium of each animal. In Group C, the defect was filled by blood clot only. In Group FFBA, the defect was filled with 0.01 ml of FFBA. In Group FFBA/PRP, the defect was filled with 0.01 ml of FFBA combined with 100 μL of PRP. All animals were euthanized at 30 days post-operatively. Histometric, using image analysis software, and histologic analyses were performed. New Bone Area (NBA) and the remaining bone graft particles area (RPA) were calculated as a percentage of the total area of the original defect. Percentage data were transformed into arccosine for statistical analysis (analysis of variance, Tukey, p < 0.05).
Results: No defect completely regenerated with bone. Group FFBA had a statistically smaller NBA (5.51% ± 4.33%) than Groups FFBA/PRP and C (11.76% ± 4.97% and 11.78% ± 2.22%, respectively). No statistically significant differences were observed between groups FFBA and FFBA/PRP with regard to RPA (51.48% ± 13.17% and 48.94 ± 10.48, respectively).
Conclusions: Within its limitation, the present study has indicated that (i) PRP improved the incorporation of FFBA, increasing the amount of new bone formed; (ii) PRP has not influenced the resorption of non viable particles of the FFBA; and (iii) presence of remaining FFBA particles might have accounted for the smaller amount of new bone observed in Group FFBA when compared to control group at 30 days post-operatively.
Laís Braga received a scholarship from CNPq.