Platelet-Rich Fibrin May Improve Postoperative Outcomes in Oral Surgery, Suggests Study
Researchers have found in a new analysis that platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) may provide beneficial effects in reducing postoperative pain and trismus, although the certainty of evidence was moderate for trismus and low for pain. Overall, PRF appears to offer potential advantages in managing pain, swelling, trismus, and alveolar osteitis (AO), and may improve probing depth at longer follow-up intervals. However, its effects on soft tissue healing and bone regeneration remain uncertain, highlighting the need for further high-quality studies.
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the impact of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and its derivatives on postoperative complications following mandibular third molar extraction, drawing from 28 randomized controlled trials. Outcomes assessed included pain, swelling, trismus, alveolar osteitis (AO), soft tissue healing, bone healing, and probing depth, with meta-analyses performed for individual postoperative days or follow-up intervals. PRF was associated with a significant reduction in pain on postoperative days 2, 3, and 7.
There was significantly less swelling in the PRF group on days 1–3 using the two-line measurement method and on day 2 using the three-line method. Mouth opening (trismus) was significantly better in the PRF group on day 1, while no significant improvements were shown on subsequent days. The odds of developing AO were significantly higher in the control group compared to the PRF group (odds ratio 2.69, 95% confidence interval 1.55–4.68, P < 0.001; I2 = 0.00%). PRF did not have a significant effect on soft tissue or bone healing. While there was no significant difference in probing depth at 1 week, there were statistically significant improvements at 3 and 6 months in favor of PRF.
The analysis identified positive effects of PRF on pain and trismus, although the certainty of the evidence was moderate for trismus and low for pain. Overall, PRF may offer benefits for pain, swelling, trismus, and AO, and may improve probing depth at longer follow-up intervals, while its impacts on soft tissue and bone healing remain uncertain.
Davarpanah M, Bakhshaie P, Mousavi S. Effect of platelet-rich fibrin derivatives on tissue healing and postoperative complications following mandibular third molar surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 2026; 0
Platelet-Rich, Fibrin, Improve, Postoperative, Outcomes, Oral Surgery, study, Third molar, Tooth extraction, Pain, Wound healing, Davarpanah M, Bakhshaie P, Mousavi S.
