Platelet rich fibrin and xenograft in treatment of intrabony defect

Abstract

For complete periodontal regeneration, delivery of growth factors in the local environment holds a great deal in adjunct to bone grafts. Platelet rich fibrin (PRF) is considered as second generation platelet concentrate, consisting of viable platelets, releasing various growth factors such as platelet-derived growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, transforming growth factor, insulin-like growth factor, epidermal growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor. Hence, this case report aims to investigate the clinical and radiological (bone fill) effectiveness of autologous PRF along with the use of xenogenic bone mineral in the treatment of intra bony defects. Intrabony defect was treated with autologous PRF along with the use of xenogenic bone mineral. A decrease in probing pocket depth, gain in clinical attachment level and significant bone fill was observed at end of 6 months. The result obtained with the use of PRF may be attributed to the sustained and simultaneous release of various growth factors over a period of 7 days. In this case report, the positive clinical impact of additional application of PRF with xenogenic graft material in the treatment of periodontal intrabony defect was seen.

Introduction

Periodontal regeneration is a multifactorial process and requires a multi-dependent sequence of biological events, including cell-adhesion, migration, proliferation, and differentiation.[1] The ultimate goal of periodontal therapy is to regenerate the lost periodontal tissues caused by periodontitis.[2] Various controlled clinical trials have demonstrated that some of the available grafting procedures may result in periodontal regeneration in intrabony defects, but complete and predictable reconstruction of periodontal tissues is still difficult to obtain.[3] The reason is that periodontium, once damaged has a limited capacity for regeneration.[4] The most positive outcome of periodontal regeneration procedures in intrabony defect has been achieved with a combination of bone graft and guided tissue regeneration.[5,6]

A complex series of events associated with periodontal regeneration involves recruitment of locally derived progenitor cells subsequently differentiated into the periodontal ligament (PDL) forming cells, cementoblasts or bone forming osteoblasts. Therefore, the key to periodontal regeneration is to stimulate the progenitor cells to re occupy the defects.

Growth factors are the vital mediators during this process which can induce the migration, attachment, proliferation and differentiation of periodontal progenitor cells. Platelet rich fibrin (PRF) may be considered as a second generation platelet concentrate, using a simplified protocol, is a recently innovative growth factor delivery medium. Carroll et al. 2005, in vitro study demonstrated that the viable platelets released six growth factors like platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), vascular endothelial growth factor, transforming growth factor (TGF), insulin-like growth factor, epidermal growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor in about the same concentration for 7 days duration of their study.[7]

Platelet rich fibrin described by Choukroun et al.[8] allows one to obtain fibrin mesh enriched with platelets and growth factors, from an anticoagulant free blood harvest without any artificial biochemical modification. The PRF clot forms a strong natural fibrin matrix which concentrates almost all the platelets and growth factors of the blood harvest, and shows a complex architectures as a healing matrix, including mechanical properties that no other platelet concentrate can offer.

It has been recently demonstrated to stimulate cell proliferation of the osteoblasts, gingival fibroblasts, and PDL cells but suppress oral epithelial cell growth. Lekovic et al. in 2011 demonstrated that PRF in combination with bovine porous bone mineral had ability to increase the regenerative effects in intrabony defects.[9]

In this report, we present the clinical and radiographic changes of a patient using PRF along with xenograft as grafting material in the treatment of periodontal intrabony defect with endodontic involvement.

Case Report

The 25-year-old male was referred to Department of Periodontics, Saveetha Dental College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, with a complaint of periodontal abscess in relation to 11. On examination, the patient was systemically healthy and had not taken any long-term antiinflammatory medications or antibiotics.

On periodontal examination and radiographic evaluation, the patient presented with an intrabony defect extending up to apical third of right maxillary central incisor (number 11) with a probing depth of 8 mm using William's periodontal probe [Figures 1 and 2]. The patient did not present with pain in relation to number 11 tooth and had no pain on percussion. There was positive electric pulp test response suggesting the concerned tooth was vital. The diagnosis was made to be localized chronic periodontitis with periodontal abscess.

Figure 1.

Preoperative photograph

Figure 2.

Preoperative radiograph

Initial therapy consisted of incision and drainage of the abscess, with antibiotic regimen for 5 days followed by oral hygiene instructions, which were repeated until the patient achieved an O’leary et al. plaque score of 20% or below.[10] Scaling and root planning of the teeth were performed.

Four weeks following Phase 1 therapy, a periodontal re-evaluation was performed to confirm the suitability of number 11 tooth for this periodontal surgical procedure. Clinical measurements were made using William's periodontal probe with graduation to a precision of 1 mm.

Blood sample was taken on the day of the surgery according to the PRF protocol with an REMI 3000 centrifuge and collection kits. Briefly, 6 ml blood sample was taken from the patient without an anti-coagulant in 10 ml glass test tubes and immediately centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 12 min. A fibrin clot was formed in the middle of the tube, whereas the upper part contained cellular plasma, and the bottom part contained red corpuscles. The fibrin clot was easily separated from the lower part of the centrifuged blood. The PRF clot was gently pressed between two sterile dry gauges to obtain a membrane which was later minced and added to the xenogenic graft material (OSSEOGRAF™).

An intrasulcular incision was made on labial and lingual aspect of the tooth of right anterior maxillary teeth (number 11, 12, 13) along with two vertical incisions, extending to the muco gingival junction in relation to the distal aspect of number 13 and 11. A full thickness trapezoidal flap was raised, and inner surface of the flap was curetted to remove the granulation tissue. Root surfaces were thoroughly planed using hand instruments and ultrasonic scalers. The right maxillary central incisor demonstrated a circumferential intrabony defect is extending distally to affect right maxillary lateral incisor, after removing granulation tissue thoroughly, the intrabony defect was found to extend in buccal and apical aspect.

Briefly, minced PRF was mixed with xenograft (OSSEOGRAF™) and was applied to the defect walls and root surfaces [Figure 3]. The xenograft with PRF was then condensed using amalgam condensers. The flap were repositioned to their presurgical levels and sutured with silk utilizing an interrupted technique [Figure 4].

Figure 3.

Platelet rich fibrin plus bone graft condensed into the defect

Figure 4.

Flap approximated and sutures placed

After the operation, the patient was prescribed systemic antibiotics (amoxicyllin 500 mg tid, 3 days), nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (combiflam tid, 3 days) and 0.12% chlorhexidine rinse (twice a day for 4 weeks). Sutures were removed after 7 days. Clinical healing was normal with neither infectious episodes nor untoward clinical symptoms. The patient was seen at 1^st week, 2^nd week, 1^st month, 3^rd and 6^th month [Figure 5].

Figure 5.

Postoperative photograph after 6 months follow-up

Periapical intraoral radiographs were obtained from the periodontal defect site at baseline and 6 months after surgery [Figure 6]. The radiographs were obtained with paralleling technique using film holders. To standardize, putty index was made, and patient was asked to bite on it along with that of the holder.

Figure 6.

Postoperative radiograph after 6 months follow-up

In this case report, the reduction in pocket depth and gain in clinical attachment were found after 6 months of follow-up [Table 1]. These are the important clinical outcomes for any periodontal regenerative procedures. Radiographs revealed improved bone fill in the intrabony defect compared to measurements at baseline.

Table 1.

Clinical parameters and radiographic assessment at baseline, 3 months and 6 months

Discussion

Platelet rich fibrin by Choukroun's technique is prepared naturally without addition of thrombin, and it is hypothesized that PRF has a natural fibrin framework and can protect growth factors from proteolysis.[11] Thus, growth factors can keep their activity for a relatively longer period and stimulate tissue regeneration effectively. The main characteristics of PRF compared with other platelet concentrates, including PRP, are that it does not require any anti-clotting agent.[12] The naturally forming PRF clot has a dense and complex three-dimensional architecture and this type of clot concentrates not only platelet, but also leukocytes. PRF is simpler and less expensive to prepare, as well as being less risky to the patients. Owing to its dense fibrin matrix, PRF takes longer to be resorbed by the host, which results in slower and sustained release of platelet and leukocyte derived growth factors in to the wound area.[13,14]

In this case report, the decision to utilize minced PRF as defect fillers in combination with xenograft was made because of its ease of manipulation and delivery to the surgical site. The intended role of the minced PRF in the intrabony defect was to deliver the growth factors in the early phase of healing.

Despite of the fact that PRF is a denser and firmer agent than other biological preparations, such as PRP and enamel matrix derivative (EMD), it is still nonrigid to a degree that its space maintaining ability in periodontal defects is nonideal. It has been reported that the combination of a mineralized, rigid bone mineral, with a semi fluid, nonrigid agent, such as EMD, significantly enhanced the clinical outcome of intrabony defects than treated without the addition of bone mineral.[15] In another study, PRF in combination in with bone mineral had ability in increasing the regenerative effects in intrabony defects.[9] For that reason, we chose xenograft (OSSEOGRAF™), hypothesizing that it could enhance the effect of PRF by maintaining the space for tissue regeneration to occur. Amorphous PRF when used along with bio-oss for augmentation in maxillary atrophic cases showed reduced healing time and favorable bone regeneration.[16]

In this case report, the reduction in pocket depth and gain in clinical attachment were found after 6 months of follow-up. These are the important clinical outcomes for any periodontal regenerative procedures. Radiographs revealed significant bone fill in the intrabony defect compared to measurements at baseline.

Platelet rich fibrin could improve the periodontal osseous defect healing, as PRF can up regulate phosphorylated extracellular signal regulated protein kinase expression and suppress the osteoclastogenesis by promoting secretion of osteoprotegerin (OPG) in osteoblasts cultures.[17] PRF also demonstrates to stimulate osteogenic differentiation of human dental pulp cells by up regulating OPG and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) expression.[18]

Furthermore, many growth factors are released from PRF as PDGF, TGF and has slower and sustained release up to 7 days[19] and up to 28 days,[20] which means PRF stimulates its environment for a significant time during remodeling. Moreover, PRF increase cell attachment, proliferation, and collagen related protein expression of human osteoblasts.[21] PRF also enhances protein kinase-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase, OPG and ALP expression, which benefits periodontal regeneration by influencing human PDL fibroblasts.[22]

Conclusion

According to the results obtained in this case report, the positive clinical impact of additional application of PRF with xenogenic graft material in treatment of periodontal intrabony defect is based on:

• Reduction in probing pocket depth

• Gain in clinical attachment level

• Significant radiographic defect bone fill

• Improved patient comfort.

However, long-term, multicenter randomized, controlled clinical trial will be required to know its clinical and radiographic effect over bone regeneration.