The autogenous blood plasma with high platelet concentration obtained through centrifugation (platelet-rich plasma, or PRP) has been used in clinical practice to stimulate bone healing in a number of situations, allegedly because of its ability to carry a high concentration of platelet-derived and beta-transformer growth factors, which are well known to stimulate different tissues growth and repair. In the present study, PRP was used to repair a half-thick, 2-cm long segmental diaphyseal bone gap produced on New Zealand rabbits’ radius. Periosteum was dried at the circumference of the gap site and the spinal cord cavity was sealed with bony wax in all animals in order to block the entrance of repairing cells other than the ones from the bone itself, but from surrounding tissues. Three groups of 15 animals each were designed, according to the procedure performed: 1) gap left empty; 2) gap filled with PRP; and 3) gap filled with an inert material (Gelfoam®). In each group, the animals were deployed into three subgroups according to postoperative follow-up period, of 4, 8, and 12 weeks, respectively, after which animals were sacrificed and the radius was dried for histological study purposes. X-rays and scintiscan were taken within 4 weeks intervals, starting from the fourth postoperative week. Full healing and remodeling were seen in group 2 as soon as the 8th postoperative week, while in groups 1 and 3, that process was only partial at the 12th week. Tecnetium uptake was increased in all groups, remaining as such throughout the whole follow-up period in groups 1 and 3, but showing reduction between the 8th and 12th week in group 2, accompanying remodeling process, with significant differences between groups (p<0.05).
Bone and bones; Blood platelets; Radionuclide imaging
