Background: The use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in bone augmentation procedures is well documented; however, the exact benefit of this material is not yet established.
Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the benefits of using PRP, when only used, and compare it to Bio-Oss (Geistlich Biomaterials, Wolhusen, Switzerland) in vertical bone augmentation capacity.
Materials and methods: The study was performed in calvaria of eight adult female New Zealand rabbits using titanium bone conduction cylinder. Two titanium cylinders were fixed into perforated slits made on the parietal bone of each rabbit. On each rabbit, one chamber was grafted with Bio-Oss, and the contralateral was filled with PRP. Animals were sacrificed 4 weeks after intervention and biopsies were taken. Densitometric, histological, and histomorphometric analyses were performed to evaluate bone mineral density, vertical bone augmentation, and remaining graft volume, respectively. Statistical analyses were performed with Mann-Whitney test, using a significance level of p < .05.
Results: Densitometric and histomorphometric data analysis revealed that mean bone mineral densities and bone augmentation were significantly lower in the cylinders treated with PRP (p < .0001) 4 weeks after implantation.
Conclusion: This study showed no beneficial effect of using PRP on osseous regeneration. In addition, it was emphasized that Bio-Oss presents good osteoconductive properties by achieving suitable bone volume values.