Platelet-Rich Plasma Applications in Bone Healing
Summary
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has emerged as a promising orthobiologic approach to enhance bone regeneration by delivering a concentrated pool of autologous growth factors and cytokines directly to sites of skeletal injury. Upon activation, platelets release key mediators such as platelet-derived growth factor and transforming growth factor-beta, which foster angiogenesis, recruit mesenchymal progenitor cells and stimulate osteoblast proliferation. Clinically, PRP has been applied as a sole injectable therapy for acute fractures, as an adjunct to surgical fixation in delayed unions and non-unions, and in combination with scaffold materials or autologous grafts to optimise the local microenvironment. Preclinical models consistently demonstrate accelerated callus formation, enhanced vascular ingrowth and improved biomechanical strength. In practice, heterogeneity in PRP preparation protocols and application methods contributes to variable outcomes, underscoring the need for standardised processing and well designed clinical trials. Globally, the adoption of PRP in orthopaedics reflects its potential to reduce healing times, lower complication rates and offer a minimally invasive alternative to conventional bone grafting.
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Platelet-Rich Plasma Applications in Bone Healing publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in platelet-rich plasma applications in bone healing across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP): An autologous blood derivative containing a high concentration of platelets and associated growth factors used to stimulate tissue repair.
Non-union fracture: A fracture that has failed to heal physiologically within the expected timeframe and shows no further radiographic progression.
Delayed union: A fracture that heals more slowly than anticipated but eventually achieves union without additional surgical intervention.
Orthobiologics: Biologically derived agents, including PRP, stem cells and growth factors, employed to enhance the body’s innate repair mechanisms in orthopaedics.
Autologous grafting: The transplantation of the patient’s own tissue or cells to another site to promote healing while minimising immune reaction.
References
- Platelet-rich plasma for the treatment of bone defects: from pre-clinical rational to evidence in the clinical practice. A systematic review. International Orthopaedics (2016).
- Orthobiologics in delayed union and non-union of adult long bones fractures: A systematic review. Bone Reports (2024).
- Clinical Effectiveness of Platelet-Rich Plasma for Long-Bone Delayed Union and Nonunion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in Medicine (2022).
- Cortical allograft strut augmented with platelet-rich plasma for the treatment of long bone non-union in lower limb- a pilot study. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders (2022).
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