title: Osteogenesis distraction and platelet-rich plasma for bone restoration of the severely atrophic mandible: preliminary results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate a new method of restoring severe atrophic mandible using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) during distraction osteogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Since 1999, 2 men and 3 women with severe atrophy (Cawood and Howell classes V and VI) of a completely edentulous mandible have been treated with a novel distraction procedure. During the surgery, a mixture of autologous bone graft, harvested from the iliac crest, and an autologous platelet concentrate, obtained from platelet-rich plasma, filled the distraction gap. This mixture constituted an autologous bone-platelet gel that was used to create a useful bony scaffold for distraction regenerate. After a latency period of 15 days, a distraction run of 0.5 mm/d, and a 60-day period of consolidation, the distraction device was removed and implants were placed simultaneously.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all treated patients, planned distraction height was achieved with a considerable enhancement of bony regeneration, and in all cases it was possible to place implants at a planned time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of these recent and innovative regenerative methods seems to be effective in restoring the severe atrophic mandible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, Italy. massimo.robiony@med.uniud.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Robiony
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Polini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Politi
mesh_terms: D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000601:surgery*; D000540:Alveolar Ridge Augmentation / Q000379:methods*; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D019857:Osteogenesis, Distraction / Q000379:methods*; D017713:Platelet Transfusion
chemical_list: D005782:Gels