Effectiveness of Platelet Rich Plasma in Wound Healing
Effectiveness of Platelet Rich Plasma in Wound Healing
Purpose: This prospective randomized comparative clinical study was conducted to assess the
 effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) gel on soft tissue healing and bone regeneration
 potential on lower third molar extraction sockets.

 Methods: For the study, 50 Patients (37 male, 13 female) requiring surgical removal of a
 lower impacted third molar and who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were recruited. The
 patients were categorized into two groups, Group A and Group B. For each group 25 patients
 were randomly allocated. The predictor variable in Group A was the application of PRP Gel
 whereas in Group B had no PRP. Postoperative pain, swelling, trismus, soft tissue healing and
 osseous regeneration was assessed using standard methods. These outcome variables were
 assessed on 1, 3-, 5-, 7-, and 14-postoperative day. Patients were recalled at the 4th, 10th,
 and 16th postoperative week for assessment of bone healing. The data were recorded and
 tabulated.
The study is designed as a prospective randomized comparative clinical study. The sample
 population was composed of fifty consecutive patients who needed surgical extraction of lower
 third molar under local anesthesia. The study included 37 male and 13 female with age ranging
 from 20 to 40 years. All Patients were categorized into GROUP A (wound in which PRP is
 placed) and GROUP B (socket without PRP). The patients were allocated randomly to each group
 equally by single-blind technique, irrespective of age and sex.

 Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee prior to the beginning
 of the study. The signed consent form obtained from all the patients after explaining the
 risks and benefits of the surgical procedure. The group A (test group) received topical
 application of PRP, whereas the group B (control group) was left to heal without PRP.

 Clinical assessment:

 Postoperative pain was assessed using a 10-point visual analog scale (VAS) with a score of 0
 equals "no pain" and 10 equals "very severe pain" Facial swelling was assessed by
 modification of Schultze-Mosgau et al method, and this involved measuring the length from the
 tragus to the oral commissure and tragus to the pogonion. The arithmetic sum of the two
 measurements was considered as facial swelling at the time point. The maximum distance
 between the maxillary central incisors and the mandibular central incisors was taken as mouth
 opening. The difference between postoperative and preoperative mouth opening value was
 considered as trismus. Assessment of soft tissue healing was based on the criteria given by
 Landry et al. and Gonshor et al. Third molar sockets were assessed radiographically for bone
 healing by modification of Kelley's method as described by Olufemi et al. The percentage of
 facial swelling and mouth opening was estimated using the method described by Ogundipe et al.

 Protocol for preparation of PRP gel Under all aseptic conditions, PRP was processed by means
 of a modification of the method of Sonnleitner et al. Before surgery, 10 mL of venous blood
 was collected from the antecubital fossa of the patient's forearm and stored into sterile
 tubes containing anticoagulant (0.5 mL citrate phosphate dextrose) from each patient of group
 A in the experimental group using routine venipuncture procedure. The tube was thoroughly
 agitated to ensure mixing of anticoagulant with the venous blood. The whole blood is then
 centrifuged at 1,200 rpm for ten minutes. The supernatant layer obtained was platelet poor
 plasma (PPP) and Buffy coat (BC) and RBCs (red blood cells) at the bottom part. PPP, BC and
 upper 1-2 mm of RBC (red blood cell) layer was collected in a new sterile tube and
 centrifuged again at 1,000 rpm for 10 min. The upper half of the supernatant is removed and
 the lower half is mixed carefully to get PRP. The platelet concentration of the PRP was
 noted.

 PRP gel was prepared by adding Five drops of the mixture of 10 % CaCl2 and 1000 U bovine
 thrombin to 2mL (milliliter) PRP just before its use in extraction socket.

 Surgical procedure The surgical extraction procedure was the same in all patients and carried
 out by the same operator. After achieving Local anesthesia using 2% lignocaine hydrochloride
 with 1:100,000 epinephrine, standard Terrence Ward's incision was placed to raise a full
 thickness mucoperiosteal flap. Distobuccal bone was carefully exposed and bone surrounding
 the buccal aspect of impacted tooth was performed using surgical bur under copious irrigation
 with 0.9% saline. The tooth was elevated using Coupland elevator and if required situations
 tooth was sectioned with surgical bur to facilitate its removal. The socket was checked for
 any tooth or bony debris. The bony margins smoothened using a file and irrigated with normal
 saline. Subsequently, PRP gel was placed into the extraction sockets of patients in the group
 A and wound closure was done using simple interrupted 3.0 black silk sutures. In group B the
 wound is closed without application of PRP gel. Patients were advised regular post extraction
 and prescribed 500 mg of paracetamol postoperatively (1 tablet every 6 h for 2 days).

 All patients were also advised to not consume any medications but those advised and not to
 get medical help somewhere else for postoperative discomfort or pain without prior
 information to the operator. The patients were reviewed postoperatively on 1-, 3-, 5-, 7-,
 and 14-day to record pain, mouth opening, Soft tissue and bony healing index. Patients were
 recalled at the 4th, 10th, and 16th postoperative week for assessment of bone healing.

 Statistical analysis:

 The data were analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) version 21.
 Descriptive statistics such as mean, SD (standard deviation ) and percentage were used.
 Normality of data was tested by using Kolmogorov and Smirnov method. Unpaired t-test was used
 to compare between groups with normally data and Mann-Whitney test for non-normally data. For
 categorical variables, Chi-square test was employed. A p-value less than 0.05 were considered
 as significant.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Patients age between 18 and 50 years.

 -  Patients who required mandibular 3rd molar extractions

 -  Patients had to have clinical and radiographic diagnosis of a single impacted
 mandibular third molar

 -  Radiographic diagnosis of Class II position B impaction (Pell and Gregory
 classification).

 -  Patients agree to return for recall visits

 -  Patients who were not experienced pain, inflammation, and infection at the operating
 site 7 days before the surgery.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 Exclusion criterion

 -  Patients if pregnant, lactating, or smokers or if they had systemic disease or any
 other medications that could interfere with healing process.

 -  Any antibiotic or any anti-inflammatory drug usage within a week period.

 -  Patients with any periapical infection or lesion associated with the third molars

 -  Patients with unacceptable oral hygiene