The addition of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to fat grafts appears to increase longevity of the transplanted materials, but inconsistent preparation protocols make meaningful evaluation of outcomes difficult, according to a retrospective study published online in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery—Global Open (December 6, 2017). Authors Joshua Luck of the Royal Free Hospital Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, et al, searched Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, and The Cochrane Library from inception through April 2017 for studies in which PRP was co-administered with fat for transplantation. A total of 23 articles met inclusion criteria.
Twenty of the studies found that the addition of PRP to fat improves graft retention rates; three reported no survival advantage. The authors posit that this variability may be explained by differing preparation protocols for the PRP and the range of mixing ratios (PRP to fat) used in the various studies.
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