title: Enhancing bone healing during distraction osteogenesis with platelet-rich plasma.
abstract: Gradual limb lengthening with external fixators using distraction osteogenesis principles is the gold standard for treatment of limb-length discrepancy. However, long treatment time is a major disadvantage of the current lengthening procedures. Efforts to decrease the treatment include biological and biomechanical factors. Injection of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a biological method to enhance bone healing during distraction osteogenesis. We hypothesised that PRP can enhance bone healing during limb lengthening. We report our experience with the use of PRP during distraction osteogenesis. This retrospective study included 19 patients divided into the standard group of 10 patients who did not receive PRP and the PRP group of nine patients who received PRP at the end of the distraction phase. The study variables included external fixator time, external fixation index, and complications during treatment. The PRP group had statistically significantly shorter treatment time (p=0.0412). Injection of PRP into regenerate bone might be an effective method to shorten treatment time during limb lengthening and lead to better functional outcomes and improved patient satisfaction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level IV, therapeutic study.
authors.affiliation: Children Orthopedic Department Medical University, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Latalski
authors.forename: Yasser A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Elbatrawy
authors.forename: Ahmed M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Thabet
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gregosiewicz
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Raganowicz
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fatyga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001861:Bone Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007870:Leg Length Inequality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D019857:Osteogenesis, Distraction / Q000379:methods*; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*