Healing of fresh frozen bone allograft with or without platelet-rich plasma: A histologic and histometric study in rats

Purpose: This study histomorphometrically analyzed the effect of autogenous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on healing of fresh frozen bone allograft (FFBA) in bony defects in rat calvaria. Materials and Methods: A 5mm-diameter defect was created in the calvarium of 30 rats. Animals were divided into three groups: C (defect was filled by blood clot only), FFBA (defect was filled with 0.01mL of FFBA), and FFBA/PRP (defect was filled with 0.01mL of FFBA combined with 100μL of PRP). All animals were euthanized at 30 days postoperatively. Histomorphometry and histology analyses were performed. Data were statistically analyzed (analysis of variance, Tukey, p<.05). Results: FFBA had a statistically smaller new bone area than groups FFBA/PRP and C. No statistically significant differences were observed between groups FFBA and FFBA/PRP with regard to remaining bone graft particle area. Conclusion: It can be concluded that (1) PRP improved the incorporation of FFBA, increasing the amount of new bone formed; (2) PRP has not influenced the resorption of nonviable particles of the FFBA; and (3) presence of remaining FFBA particles might have accounted for the smaller amount of new bone observed in group FFBA when compared with control group.