Use of Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) in the Management of Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (MRONJ)

Effectiveness of Platelet-Rich Fibrin in the Surgical Management of Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw: A Randomized Prospective Study

Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (MRONJ) is a severe and increasingly prevalent clinical condition, defined as the presence of exposed mandibular or maxillary bone in the oral cavity persisting for at least eight weeks. The rising incidence of osteonecrosis of the jaw is closely associated with the widespread use of antiresorptive agents, such as bisphosphonates and denosumab, particularly in patients treated for malignant diseases and metabolic bone disorders.

The condition is frequently accompanied by pain, inflammation, infection, and functional impairment, all of which significantly reduce patients' quality of life. Despite advances in medical management, conservative treatment strategies have demonstrated limited effectiveness, especially in advanced stages of the disease. Surgical intervention, including resection of necrotic bone or segmental bone resection with removal of necrotic tissue, has been shown to provide more favorable outcomes. However, surgical treatment remains associated with a considerable risk of postoperative complications, delayed or impaired wound healing, and recurrence of symptoms.

One promising adjunctive approach is the use of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), an autologous biomaterial with documented regenerative and anti-inflammatory properties. PRF has been used in oral and maxillofacial surgery for over a decade and may enhance both soft tissue and bone healing. The application of PRF to fill the post-resection defect and, when necessary, to cover the surgical site in cases of insufficient mucosal tissue has shown encouraging results. Evidence from individual case reports, animal studies, and preliminary clinical trials suggests that PRF may improve wound healing, reduce postoperative complications, and decrease the risk of disease recurrence.

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effectiveness of PRF as an adjunctive treatment in the surgical management of osteonecrosis of the jaw. Patients will be assessed at predefined follow-up intervals of 14 days, 6 weeks, and 6 months postoperatively. Study participants will be allocated to a control group receiving standard surgical treatment and a study group undergoing surgical treatment supplemented with PRF application. Comparative analysis between the groups will be performed to assess treatment outcomes.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Medication Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Surgical Application of Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF)

Detailed Description

Qualification for surgical treatment was based on the decision of a qualified specialist in maxillofacial surgery. During the procedure, a mucoperiosteal flap was elevated to expose the necrotic lesion. Any fistulas present were excised. Necrotic sequestra or necrotically altered bone were removed, and the extent of bone resection was determined based on the presence of bleeding from viable bone. Patients in the study group were operated on according to a protocol in which a PRF clot was applied to the surgical site following removal of the necrotic tissue.

Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) was prepared according to the Choukroun A-PRF+ protocol. A total of 40 mL of autologous venous blood was collected into four 10 mL glass tubes without additives and immediately centrifuged at 1300 rpm for 14 minutes using a PRF Duo Quattro centrifuge (Process for PRF, Nice, France). The surgical wound was closed with sutures, avoiding excessive tissue tension.

All patients received antibiotic prophylaxis consisting of amoxicillin with clavulanic acid (875 mg + 125 mg, twice daily) or clindamycin (600 mg, three times daily) in cases of penicillin allergy, administered 12 hours prior to surgery. Antibiotic therapy was continued for 14 days postoperatively. When microbiological swab results and an antibiogram were available, antibiotic therapy was modified accordingly. Postoperatively, patients were instructed on proper oral hygiene and were prescribed a 0.2% chlorhexidine mouth rinse. All procedures were performed in a standardized manner by surgical teams consisting of a specialist and a resident or two specialists in order to ensure comparability of results.

No patient in the study group reported serious adverse events related to the PRF harvesting procedure. In the postoperative period, patients occasionally reported bruising at the venipuncture site, mild swelling, or minimal pain. Follow-up was conducted in the outpatient clinic according to a predefined standardized protocol, including visits at 14 days, 6 weeks, and 6 months after surgery. During each visit, clinical and radiological parameters were assessed, including soft tissue healing, presence or absence of bone exposure, pain complaints, AAOMS (American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons) stage, quality of life, presence of exudate, and radiological findings. Assessments were performed by different members of the clinical team in order to limit subjective bias and increase the reliability of the obtained results.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 22
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Poland
  • Wielkopolska
    • Poznan, Wielkopolska, Poland, 60-355 Poznań
      • Uniwersytecki Szpital Kliniczny w Poznaniu

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients diagnosed with medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) according to the criteria established by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS).
• patients aged ≥18 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of metastases to the bones of the head and neck.
• History of hematologic disorders, including leukemia or thalassemia.
• Any condition or comorbidity that, in the investigator's judgment, would interfere with the patient's ability to safely participate in the study or comply with the protocol.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Surgical Treatment With Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF); Patients undergoing surgical treatment for osteonecrosis of the jaw with adjunctive application of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF).	Procedure: Surgical Application of Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF); Application of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) to the surgical site during procedure in patients with medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ).
No Intervention: Standard Surgical Treatment; Participants undergoing standard surgical treatment for osteonecrosis of the jaw without adjunctive platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) application.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Clinical Healing of the Surgical Site in Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (MRONJ)	Clinical healing of the surgical site assessed during standardized intraoral examination and categorized into three predefined groups: Complete healing - full mucosal coverage without exposed necrotic bone;; Partial wound dehiscence <50% of the surgical incision;; Partial wound dehiscence ≥50% of the surgical incision. Assessment performed by trained surgeons.	14 days post-surgery
Clinical Healing of the Surgical Site in Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (MRONJ)	Clinical healing of the surgical site assessed during standardized intraoral examination and categorized into three predefined groups: Complete healing - full mucosal coverage without exposed necrotic bone;; Partial wound dehiscence <50% of the surgical incision;; Partial wound dehiscence ≥50% of the surgical incision. Assessment performed by trained surgeons.	6 weeks post-surgery
Clinical Healing of the Surgical Site in Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (MRONJ)	Clinical healing of the surgical site assessed during standardized intraoral examination and categorized into three predefined groups: Complete healing - full mucosal coverage without exposed necrotic bone;; Partial wound dehiscence <50% of the surgical incision;; Partial wound dehiscence ≥50% of the surgical incision. Assessment performed by trained surgeons.	6 months post-surgery

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Health-related quality of life assessed using the EQ-5D Visual Analog Scale (EQ-VAS)	Health-related quality of life assessed using the Polish version of the EQ-5D Visual Analog Scale (EQ-VAS). The EQ-VAS is a patient-reported measure ranging from 0 to 100, where 0 represents the worst imaginable health state and 100 represents the best imaginable health state. Patients self-reported their overall health status at baseline (preoperative assessment), 6 weeks post-surgery, and 6 months post-surgery.	Baseline (pre-surgery), 6 weeks post-surgery, 6 months post-surgery
Preoperative serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration	Serum CRP concentration (mg/dL) measured preoperatively (baseline, prior to surgical intervention) using a standard automated biochemical analyzer (Alinity c, Abbott company). Blood samples obtained via venipuncture and analyzed in a certified clinical laboratory. CRP will be analyzed as a continuous variable in relation to clinical healing of the surgical site assessed 14 days after surgery. Clinical healing will be categorized into three predefined groups: Complete healing - full mucosal coverage without exposed necrotic bone;; Partial wound dehiscence <50% of the surgical incision;; Partial wound dehiscence ≥50% of the surgical incision. The association between CRP concentration and wound healing outcomes will be analyzed, including potential interaction with PRF application.	Baseline (preoperative) only
Preoperative serum total protein concentration	Serum total protein concentration (g/dL) measured preoperatively (baseline, prior to surgical intervention) using a standard automated biochemical analyzer (Alinity c, Abbott company). Blood samples obtained via venipuncture and analyzed in a certified clinical laboratory. Total protein concentration will be analyzed as a continuous variable in relation to clinical healing of the surgical site assessed 14 days after surgery. Clinical healing will be categorized into three predefined groups: Complete healing - full mucosal coverage without exposed necrotic bone;; Partial wound dehiscence <50% of the surgical incision;; Partial wound dehiscence ≥50% of the surgical incision. The association between total protein concentration and wound healing outcomes will be analyzed, including potential interaction with PRF application.	Baseline (preoperative)
Preoperative weight [kg]	Body weight measured using a calibrated digital medical scale (accuracy ±0.1 kg).	Baseline (preoperative)
Preoperative white blood cell (WBC) count	White blood cell (WBC) count (×10³/µL) measured preoperatively (baseline, prior to surgical intervention) using an automated hematology analyzer (Sysmex 1000, Sysmex company). Blood samples obtained via venipuncture and analyzed in a certified clinical laboratory. WBC count will be analyzed as a continuous variable in relation to clinical healing of the surgical site assessed 14 days after surgery. Clinical healing will be categorized into three predefined groups: Complete healing - full mucosal coverage without exposed necrotic bone;; Partial wound dehiscence <50% of the surgical incision;; Partial wound dehiscence ≥50% of the surgical incision. The association between WBC count and wound healing outcomes will be analyzed, including potential interaction with PRF application.	Baseline (preoperative)
Preoperative height [m]	Height measured using a wall-mounted stadiometer (accuracy ±0.5 cm)	Baseline (preoperative)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Poznan University of Medical Sciences
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Aleksy Nowak, Poznan University of Medical Sciences

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 15, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 31, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): December 31, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 29, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 9, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): March 11, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 11, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 9, 2026
• Last Verified: January 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: PRF; Platelet Rich Fibrin; MRONJ; osteonecrosis of the jaw; Medication Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2021_808

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: dentified individual participant data (IPD) may be shared with qualified researchers upon reasonable request. Requests should be directed to the corresponding investigator, and data will be provided in accordance with all applicable ethical and legal regulations.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No