Platelet Rich Plasma Helpful for Jaw Osteonecrosis

The paper outlined below suggests platelet rich plasma may be helpful for patients with osteonecrosis of the jaw induced by bisphosphonates.  Bisphosphonates are a class of drugs that help prevent bone loss and are used to treat osteoporosis.  Further data will be be required to confirm these findings.  

AM

TotalTendon

Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2012 May 28.

Use of platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.

Bocanegra-Pérez S, Vicente-Barrero M, Knezevic M, Castellano-Navarro JM, Rodríguez-Bocanegra E, Rodríguez-Millares J,Pérez-Plasencia D, Ramos-Macías A.

Source

Hospital Universitario Insular de las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.

Abstract

Platelet-rich plasma is a concentrate of growth factors and osteoconductive proteins, which can play a major role in bone biology by accelerating and enhancing bone repair and regeneration. This paper describes the results of using platelet-rich plasma in the management of bisphosphonate-associated necrosis of the jaw. Eight patients with a diagnosis of bisphosphonate-associated necrosis of the jaw were surgically treated for debridement and removal of necrotic bone, followed by application of autologous platelet concentrate enriched with growth factors and primary suture of the wound. Patients underwent periodic clinical and radiological follow-up examinations. All patients showed clinical improvement and oral lesions resolved 2-4 weeks after treatment. After an average 14-month follow up period, patients remained asymptomatic. Although not conclusive, the combination of necrotic-bone curettage and platelet-rich-plasma to treat refractory osteonecrosis of the jaw yielded promising results.