Influence of autologous platelet concentrate on healing in intra-bony defects following guided tissue regeneration therapy: a randomized prospective clinical split-mouth study.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the influence of autologous platelet concentrate (APC) on early wound healing and regeneration outcomes following guided tissue regeneration (GTR) therapy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In 25 patients, two contralateral deep intra-bony defects were treated with beta-TCP and a bioresorbable GTR membrane. They were randomly assigned to test and control procedure. In test defects, APC was additionally applied. After 3, 6, and 12 months, healing results were assessed by clinical parameters and quantitative digital subtraction radiography.

RESULTS

Post-operative membrane exposures occurred in 48% of the test sites and 80% of the control sites. Both groups revealed a significant clinical attachment level (CAL) gain of 5 mm after 12 months. Eighty-eight per cent of test and control sites showed a CAL gain of > or =4 mm. No clinical parameter revealed significant differences between test and control sites. A significant bone density gain was found in both groups after 3, 6, and 12 months. Only after 6 months, the bone density gain was significantly greater in the test defects.

CONCLUSION

Within the limits of this study, autologous platelet concentrate did not seem to have a noticeable influence on the clinical and most of the radiographic outcomes following GTR. However, APC might reduce the occurrence of post-operative membrane exposures and accelerate bone density gain.