The effect of platelet-rich plasma on the bone healing around calcium phosphate-coated and non-coated oral implants in trabecular bone

The effect of local application of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on bone healing in combination with the use of titanium implants with 2 different surface configurations was investigated. PRP fractions were obtained from venous blood sample of 6 goats and applied via gel preparation and subsequent installation in the implant site or via dipping of the implant in PRP liquid before insertion. Thirty-six implants (18 non-coated and 18 calcium phosphate (CaP) coated) were placed into the goat femoral condyles (trabecular bone). The animals were sacrificed at 6 weeks after implantation, and implants with surrounding tissue were processed for light microscopical evaluation. In addition to subjective description of the histological findings, histomorphometrical variables were also evaluated (the bone-implant contact and the bone mass adjacent to the implant). Significantly more interfacial bone-to-implant contact was observed for all 3 groups of CaP-coated implants and the titanium/liquid group (non-coated implant with PRP liquid) than for the other 2 non-coated titanium groups (with PRP gel or without PRP). The evaluation of the bone mass close to implant surface indicated that all the groups induced a significant increase of the bone mass except the PRP gel groups. On the basis of the observations, it was concluded that magnetron-sputtered CaP coatings can improve the integration of oral implants in trabecular bone. The additional use of PRP did not offer any significant effect on the bone response to the CaP-coated implants, whereas PRP in a liquid form showed a significant effect on bone apposition to roughened titanium implants during the early post-implantation healing phase.