The role of platelet-rich plasma in foot and ankle surgery.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), derived from autologous blood, is defined as a volume of plasma that has a platelet concentration that typically is five times greater (approximately 1,000,000/microl) than physiologic levels. PRP serves as a reservoir of critical growth factors, including platelet-derived growth factor, transforming growth factor-beta, and insulin-like growth factor-I. Although there is an abundance of literature pertaining to dental applications, this article highlights the use of PRP in orthopedic applications, ranging from PRP preparation to in vitro and in vivo studies to clinical research.