Implantation of Infant Platelet-Rich Plasma/Fibrin with Gingivoperiosteoplasty in Patients with Unilateral Cleft Lip and Alveolus

Objective No studies have examined the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) alone and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) without alveolar bone grafting or other bone substitutes for alveolar cleft repair during infancy. This study evaluated the effectiveness of autologous PRP/PRF on alveolar regeneration in infantile unilateral cleft lip and alveolus. Design Retrospective study. Setting Patients, Participants: A total of 56 patients with alveolar clefts were classified into the no PRP/PRF (which received gingivoperiosteoplasty [GPP] without PRP/PRF), PRP (which received GPP with PRP), and PRF (which received GPP with PRF) groups. Interventions Regarding preparation, 5 mL of blood was withdrawn, and 1 mL each of PRP and PRF was prepared via centrifugal separation. PRP was implanted in the alveolar cleft after loading it into a commercially available gelatin sponge, while PRF was implanted directly. Main Outcome Measures Postoperative bone formation was assessed using computed tomography and radiography for qualitative analysis. Results The new alveolar bone volume was higher in the PRF group than in the other groups; however, no differences were observed between the PRP, PRF, and control groups. Conclusion This study was performed without complication. However, no significant difference in bone formation was found between the PRP, PRF, and control groups.