Effect of Platelet-Rich Fibrin on Repair of Defect in the Articular Disc in Rabbit Temporomandibular Joint by Platelet-Rich Fibrin = Effect of Platelet-Rich Fibrin on Repair of Defect in the Articular Disc in Rabbit Temporomandibular Joint by Platelet-Rich Fibrin

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The objective of this study was to evaluate platelet-rich fibrin (PRF)’s effectiveness in repairing articular disc defect in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) of rabbits. Eight rabbits were divided into four groups of two rabbits each, corresponding to groups A, B, C, and D. Both TMJs of all of the rabbits were used in the experiments: the right joints comprised the experimental groups, and the left ones, the control groups. The disc defect was circular and 2 mm in diameter. In the experimental groups, the PRF was compressed into the defect, whereas the control group defects were left untreated. A, B, C, and D groups were sacrificed at the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 6th weeks, respectively. The defects of each control group exhibited no specific changes. Contrastingly, in each experimental group, there was an increased number of chondroblasts at the margins of the defects, along with accelerated cell differentiation and a columnar cell arrangement observable at the time of cell differentiation. The experimental groups showed inflammatory cell infiltrations and fibrosis by the 1st week, maturation of chondrocytes by the 2nd week, and proliferation by the 4th week, after which the defects began to be filled with chondrocytes, a process that was complete after the 6th week. In the histological evaluation (H-E), the experimental groups showed significant increases of chondroblasts after the 2nd and 4th weeks, as well as regular columns of chondrocyte arrays observable during cell division. After 6 weeks, the defects were filled with chondrocytes.