Platelet-rich plasma injections for the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders: A systematic review

ObjectiveThis systematic review aimed to investigate and examine whether intra-articular injections of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) after arthrocentesis are beneficial for the treatment of temporomandibular disorders, when compared to other treatments, such as injections of hyaluronic acid (HA) or saline after arthrocentesis. MethodsAn electronic search on PubMed was performed using combinations of the terms 'temporomandibular' and 'platelet rich plasma', to identify studies reported in English and published up until 2017. The initial screening identified 222 records, of which only seven fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. Of these studies, three compared injection of PRP after arthrocentesis with the injection of HA after arthrocentesis, while two compared injection of PRP after arthrocentesis with Ringer's lactate after arthrocentesis and one compared injection of PRP after arthrocentesis to sodium chloride. ResultsFive of the studies found that PRP injections have led to significant improvements in mandibular range of motion and pain intensity up to 12 months after treatment, while the remaining two studies found similar results for the different treatments. ConclusionHowever, a standardized protocol for PRP preparation and application needs to be established.