Efficacy of Platelet-rich Plasma on Promoting Bone Healing in Maxillofacial Defects: A Systematic Review

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been significantly important in oral and maxillofacial surgery as it is rich in growth factors and can promote bone healing. However, its clinical efficacy remains controversial as some studies reported no significant improvement in new bone formation after treatment with PRP. The current study aimed to evaluate scientific evidence about the efficacy of PRP incorporation on enhancing bone healing in maxillofacial defects. English scientific articles were retrieved from ScienceDirect and MEDLINE (via PubMed). Keywords including “platelet-rich plasma,” “bone healing,” and “maxillofacial” were obtained from Medical Subject Headings. Only studies comparing a group who underwent surgery using bone graft and who received PRP and a control group without PRP were included in the analysis. This study was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines. In total, 19 articles were retrieved. Of 19 articles, only 9 reported significant improvement in bone regeneration after treatment with PRP for maxillofacial defects. Although PRP is popular, previous studies in the literature have not confirmed the efficacy of PRP on enhancing bone regeneration in the maxillofacial region. Therefore, further randomized controlled studies should be conducted to validate the effects of PRP.