Abstract
Introduction: Bone defects resulting from trauma, pathological conditions, or surgical interventions often require advanced regenerative strategies, particularly when critical-sized defects exceed the body’s intrinsic healing capacity. Among various biomaterials, Leukocyte- and Platelet-Rich Fibrin (L-PRF) has gained significant attention for its autologous origin, bioactive properties, and potential application in both autologous and xenogenic forms to enhance bone regeneration.
Materials & Methods: Adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided to four experimental groups to evaluate the effects of equine-derived lyophilized L-PRF, with or without autologous bone grafts, on critical-sized radial bone defects. L-PRF was prepared from equine blood, lyophilized, and applied to the defect sites, with bone healing assessed via radiography and histopathology, and statistical differences among groups analyzed using non-parametric methods.
Results & Discussion: Radiographic and histopathological analyses demonstrated that the autograft + L-PRF group exhibited the most pronounced bone healing, with significantly higher Lane and Sandhu scores and evidence of progressive cartilage-to-bone formation compared to the L-PRF alone and empty defect groups. The autograft group also showed superior outcomes relative to L-PRF alone, while untreated defects displayed primarily fibrous tissue with no bone formation, highlighting the synergistic effect of combining L-PRF with autologous bone grafts.
Conclusion: In this study, xenogenic equine-derived L-PRF enhanced the repair of critical-sized radial bone defects in rats, with its combination with autografts yielding superior osteogenic outcomes compared to L-PRF alone.