Aim/Objective/Purpose: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is extensively used in oral and maxillofacial surgery to stimulate and accelerate bone healing. However, contradictory results were reported. In order to clarify this inconsistency, this study examined the influence of PRP alone and associated with autologous bone graft (ABG) in an animal model.

Material and methods: Twenty four New Zealand white rabbits were divided randomly into 4 groups based on their time of sacrifice. In each animal 4 bone cavities defects (2 on each hemimandible body) of 2 mm of diameter were created. The defects were filled randomly with PRP, ABG, ABG + PRP, and blood clot (control). Animals were sacrificed at 7, 15, 21 and 45 days after surgery, and biopsy specimens were evaluated by histological, radiological, and histomorfometric (bone volume, trabecular thickness and trabecular separation) studies. An ANOVA test was performed to compare all the above parameters. The statistical significance was p < 0.05.

Results: ABG significantly improved healing vs Control. An increased radiographic, histologic and histomorfometric bone healing were seen at 7, 15, 21 and 45 days intervals in all ABG groups; An improvement for all studied parameters in the PRP group vs Control group and between the ABG + PRP group vs ABG group was noted but without statistical significance.

Conclusions: In this novel experimental rabbit bone cavity defect model PRP does not significantly enhance bone healing.

Conflict of interest: None declared.