Evaluating of Platelet-Rich Fibrin in the Treatment of Alveolar Cleft With Iliac Bone Graft By Means of Volumetric Analysis

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of platelet-rich fibrin usage in the treatment of alveolar cleft with iliac bone graft by means of volumetric analysis. In this study, 22 patients with alveolar cleftsincluding 13 unilateral and 9 bilateralwere treated with anterior iliac crest bone grafts. Patients were divided into 2 groups as control (group A) and platelet-rich fibrin (group B) groups. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans were obtained preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively. Three-dimensional reconstructions of CBCT images were created by using Mimics software. Preoperative alveolar cleft volume and postoperative newly formed bone volume were assessed volumetrically. The percentages of preoperative alveolar cleft volume ranged from 0.51 to 2.04cm(3), with a mean volume of 0.98 +/- 0.33cm(3). The percentages of newly formed bone in group B ranged from 50.70% to 80.09%, with a mean percentage of 68.21 +/- 10.80%. In Group A, the percentages of bone formation ranged from 47.02% to 79.23%, with a mean percentage of 64.62 +/- 9.49%. Platelet-rich fibrin can be used in the treatment of alveolar cleft with corticocancellous bone graft harvested from the anterior iliac crest, but in this study, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups for postoperative newly formed bone volume (P>0.05).