Clinical and radiographic evaluation of platelet rich fibrin and bone graft material (β-tricalcium phosphate + hydroxyapatite) in the treatment of intrabony defects of periodontitis patients- A randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: Present study aimed to assess the clinical and radiographic effect of the bone graft (BG) material (β-tricalcium phosphate + hydroxyapatite) alone and in combination with platelet rich fibrin (PRF) in intrabony defects (IBD) of periodontitis patients.

METHODS: It is a 6-month randomized controlled clinical trial carried out in 42 IBDs of periodontitis (average age 40 years). IBD ≥ 3 mm along with associated probing depth of ≥ 5 mm following phase-I therapy were treated either with open flap debridement (OFD) with bone graft (β-tricalcium phosphate + hydroxyapatite- i.e., Control group) or OFD with bone graft plus PRF membrane (i.e., Test group). Individual customized acrylic stent with grooves were used to ensure reproducible and repeatable measurements of clinical and radiographic parameters, including probing pocket depth (PPD), relative attachment loss (RAL), gingival marginal level (GML), vertical bone defect fill (VHD) and area of IBD (AOD) on intraoral periapical radiographs. PPD reduction and CAL gain were considered as primary outcomes and radiographic bone fill as secondary outcomes. [CTRI/2012/07/002793] Results: The preoperative PI, RAL, GML. PPD, VHD & AOD from control group was 1.06±0.08, 11.57±2.29 mm, 5.24±1.89 mm, 6.29±1.52 mm, 14.36±2.65 mm, & 7.79±4.39 mm2, whereas the same after 6-months was 1.08±0.14, 9.34±2.54mm, 5.81±2.20 mm, 3.52±0.93 mm, 12.64±2.34 mm, & 5.34±3.2 mm2 respectively. The preoperative PI, RAL, GML. PPD, VHD & AOD from experimental group was 1.14±0.05, 12.19±2.86mm, 4.38±1.63 mm, 7.81±2.6 mm, 13.46±3.42 mm, & 10.31±8.71 mm2 whereas the same after 6-months was 1.09±0.12, 8.62±2.62mm, 4.90±1.79 mm, 3.71±1.68 mm, 10.10±2.07 mm & 4.38±2.67 mm2 respectively. After 6 months of evaluation both the groups showed significant reduction in PPD (p<0.001) and significant gain in CAL (p<0.001), and significant improvement in radiographic VHD fill and AOD changes. Again, test group showed significant changes (p<0.001) over the control group considering the same outcomes.

CONCLUSION: With the study limitations in mind, we conclude that, the treatment of intrabony defects with bone graft (β -tricalcium phosphate + hydroxyapatite) material or the same along with PRF membrane results in statistically significant improvement in clinical (CAL and PPD) and radiographic (VHD and AOD) parameters; the latter having highly significant benefits. The indigenous bone graft material needs improvement.