The use of platelet-rich plasma in bone reconstruction therapy

The use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in bone reconstruction therapy was introduced in the late 1990s. Since then, many scientists and clinicians have employed it in orthopaedic and oral surgeries. Unfortunately, studies that analyze the use of PRP are somewhat controversial as some conclude that the use of PRP may favor bone regeneration and others conclude that the use of PRP is irrelevant. By listing and analyzing the biological effect that each factor released by the activated platelets can have in bone regeneration, the present review answers the question of why PRP may be useful in bone reconstruction therapy. Subsequently, by examining the studies that have both successfully and unsuccessfully utilized PRP, it suggests how PRP might be used in order to achieve successful results in orthopaedic and dental bone reconstruction surgeries. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.