Reduction of bone resorption by the application of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in bone grafting of the alveolar cleft

Objective: We evaluated the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on the regeneration of autogenous cancellous bone and marrow grafted in the alveolar cleft. Design: Twenty patients with alveolar clefts were examined; 6 were the control group and received cancellous bone and marrow grafts without PRP, while the remaining 14 comprised the PRP group and received grafts with PRP. Prior to surgery, 50 ml of blood was withdrawn and 5 ml of PRP gel produced through centrifugal separation. The bone graft mixed with PRP was then packed into the alveolar cleft. Postoperative bone density was assessed as the aluminium-equivalent value on occlusal X-ray films in a qualitative analysis. Quantitative evaluation of regenerated bone was made with computed tomography and panoramic radiographs at 1 month, 6 months and 1 year after surgery. Results: Satisfactory bone bridging formation was observed in all patients without any complications. The bone density of the PRP group was lower than that of the control group at 1 week, but the same after 1 month. The added PRP reduced the resorption of regenerated bone postoperatively. Conclusion: Autogenous cancellous bone grafting with PRP, which significantly reduces postoperative bone resorption, is a reliable technique for alveolar bone grafting of cleft patients. (C) 2010 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery.