The Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) on the Survival of Composite Graft and the Appropriate Time of Injection in Rabbit Ear Composite Graft Model

Introduction:

The use of composite grafts in facial reconstruction has been limited by an unpredictable survival beyond a radius of 1 cm. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) contains multiple growth factor. We tried to study the effect of an injection of PRP on composite graft and the appropriate time of injection.

 

Methods:

24 New Zealand White rabbits were used. The rabbits were divided into 4 groups. Auricular composite grafts were harvested in a circular fashion of 3cm diameter. Harvested grafts were rotated 180°, and reattached(Fig. 1.). The group 1 was injected into the recipient site with 0.5cc of PRP for each ear, 3 days before the grafting. The group 2 was injected just before grafting. The group 3 was injected 3 days after grafting. The group 4 was the control group. At 21 days, the surviving area and microvessel density were evaluated.

 

Results:

Mean graft survival were as follows; Group 1 (95.48%), Group 2 (69.67%), Group 3 (56.65%), Control (40.01%)(Fig. 2.). Mean vessel counts(x200) were as follows; Group 1 (33.58), Group 2 (24.58), Group 3 (20.08), Control (11). All experimental groups showed significantly higher survival rate and neovascularization than the control group while group 1 showed the highest survival rate and neovascularization.

 

Conclusions:

 

This study has shown the effect of angiogenesis toward PRP’s composite graft. Moreover it identified that the survival rate could increase compared to pretreatment group. As it is minimally invasive, fast, easily applicable and inexpensive treatment, it is assumed that it will enable us to use a bigger composite graft clinically.

Figure 1

Figure 2