evaluation of platelet-rich plasma in combination with deproteinized bovine bone mineral in the rabbit cranium; a pilot study

statement of problem: reconstruction methods are an essential prerequisite for functional rehabilitation of the stomatognathic system. platelet-rich plasma (prp) offers a new and potentially useful adjunct to bone substitute materials (e.g. xenografts) in oral and maxillofacial bone and implant reconstructive surgery. purpose: an animal study was carried out to investigate the influence of prp on the regeneration of non-critical sized bony defects, treated with deproteinized bovine bone mineral (dbbm). materials and methods: eight new zealand white rabbits were included in this randomized, pilot study. three equal cranial bone defects (36 mm) were created and immediately grafted with dbbm and prp+dbbm; one of them was left unfilled to serve as a control. the defects were evaluated using histologic and histomorphometric analysis at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks. results: the histomorphometric findings showed a significant increase in bone area and trabecular maturity in experimental defects as compared to the control at 4, 8 and 12 week intervals. a significant increase in bone formation was seen with the addition of prp to dbbm at 2, 4 and 8 week intervals. at 12 weeks, the level of bone formation was similar between the two groups. there was also a significant increase in the rate of biodegradation of the dbbm particles with the addition of prp at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks. no foreign body reaction and severe inflammation was seen in any of specimens. conclusion: within the limitations of this pilot study, it was concluded that the addition of prp to xenogenic bone substitute material in non-critical-sized defects of the rabbit cranium showed a histomorphometric increase in bone formation (until the 8th week of healing) and a greater amount of biomaterial degradation throughout the study period.