The effect of injectable platelet-rich fibrin in combination with autogenous bone grafts on bone healing in an ovariectomized osteoporotic rat model with critical-sized defects

Objectives: To assess the impact of autogenous graft materials, including autogenous bone graft )ABG( and injectable platelet-rich fibrin )I-PRF( clots, on bone defect regeneration in ovariectomized osteoporotic rats. Methods: Wistar rats )6-8 weeks old( were ovariectomized, and surgery began after 8 weeks. A 5-mm defect was created bilaterally in the parietal bones of 16 rats, which were divided into 4 groups. Group A )blank( had untreated defects; group B had defects filled with 0.1 ml of I-PRF, group C had defects filled with 0.1 ml of ABG, and group D had defects filled with a combination of 0.1 ml each of I-PRF and ABG. Four weeks the rats were euthanized. Bone regeneration was evaluated through histopathologic analysis and microcomputed tomography )micro-CT(. Results: In ovariectomized rats treated with ABG or I-PRF, bone regeneration was enhanced, with increased periosteal activity, osteoblast count, and new bone volume, as determined histologically. The ABG+I-PRF group had the highest periosteal vascularity, but the difference compared to the ABG group was not statistically significant )p>0.05(. p >0.05(. Osteoblast numbers were significantly higher in the ABG+I-PRF group than in the blank group )p<0.05(. p <0.05(. Micro-CT showed the highest mean new bone volume ratio in the ABG+I-PRF group, followed by the ABG group. Conclusion: The combined use of ABG and I-PRF enhances bone formation in osteoporotic rats following ovariectomy.