Platelet-Rich Plasma and Its Uses in Foot and Ankle Surgery

With advances in basic science, the use of biological adjuncts is currently being explored to supplement orthopedic surgery. Platelet-rich plasma is a clinical concept of autologous intraoperative concentration of serum platelets to provide high levels of early critical growth factors for implantation into fracture, arthrodesis, or nonunion sites. The theoretical benefit of a biological adjunct like platelet-rich plasma has been to significantly enhance fusion rates. Platelet-rich plasma has been defined as a volume of plasma that has a platelet concentration above physiological levels, typically a 5-fold increase. Application of autologous platelet concentrate is a simple procedure with minimal morbidity, which is also inexpensive. Although an abundance of literature exists pertaining to dental applications, few data exist on orthopedic applications.