Abstract
A possible strategy to promote the wound-healing cascade in both soft and hard tissues is the preparation of an autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to encourage the release of growth factors from activated platelets. In this process, PRP combines the advantage of an autologous fibrin clot that will aid in hemostasis as well as provide growth factors in high concentrations to the site of a tissue defect. The PRP preparation can be used as a biological enhancer in the healing of fractures and lumbar fusions. The local application of growth factors seems to promote initiation and early maturation of bone formation. Autologous bone or bone substitutes can be added to this mixture to increase the volume of grafting material. A simplified technique utilizing a commercially available separation system (GPS-Gravitational Platelet Separation System) is described. This system provides a less costly alternative to other previously described augmentation techniques and also presents a patient-friendly and operator-safe alternative. Further experimental studies of the actual concentrations of the growth factors in the PRP samples are necessary in order to validate the platelet concentration and growth-factor activation by laboratory evidence. In further prospective clinical trials, the safety and efficacy of PRP, in combination with autologous bone or bone graft substitutes, must be evaluated.