Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2026
Characterization of Leukocyte-platelet Rich Fibrin, A Novel Biomaterial
Published on: September 29, 2015
[The relevance of Choukroun's Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) during middle ear surgery: preliminary results]
F Braccini1, L Tardivet, D M Dohan Ehrenfest
1Institut Azuréen d'ORL et de Chirurgie de la Face, 25 Avenue Jean Médecin, F-06000 Nice, France. contact@braccini.net
Objectives:
To evaluate the relevance of Leucocyte- and Platelet-Rich Fibrin (L-PRF, Choukroun's technique) Concentrates during tympanoplasty.
Materials And Methods:
152 myringoplasties (including 2 cases with bilateral tympanic perforations) were treated by the senior surgeon in 150 patients, 63 women and 87 males aged between 25 and 55-years-old, between december 2004 and june 2008. These patients showed non marginal tympanic perforations, sized from punctiform to subtotal. For the smallest perforations, a PRF cylinder was used alone to fill the perforation without preparing a tympanomeatus flap (Champagne plug technique). For perforations largest than the third of the tympanic surface, temporal aponeurosis graft in underlay was preferred, and optimized by the lateral application of a PRF membrane (hamburger technique).
Results:
6 failures were recorded in this case series, with tympans showing residual microperforations, after a minimum follow-up of 6 months. The success rate was thus close to 96%. The mean success rate without PRF is normally 85%. All failures were recorded on large non marginal lesions.
Conclusion:
PRF will never save an inadequate surgical procedure, but it offers both mechanical and inflammatory protection to the tympanic graft and accelerates cell proliferation and matrix remodelling. Moreover, this autologous biomaterial induces no undesirable tissue reaction, is easy, quick and cheap to produce and is easily manipulated during the surgical procedure. It seems a precious help for the otologist, in order to improve tympanic healing. PRF potential applications in the middle-ear surgery seem numerous.
Insights
Leucocyte- and Platelet-Rich Fibrin (L-PRF) significantly improved tympanoplasty success rates to 96%, compared to the usual 85%. This autologous biomaterial enhances graft healing and offers protection, proving valuable in middle-ear surgery.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Regenerative Medicine
- Biomaterials Science
Context:
- Tympanoplasty aims to repair tympanic membrane perforations.
- Autologous biomaterials are increasingly explored to enhance surgical outcomes.
- Leucocyte- and Platelet-Rich Fibrin (L-PRF) is a concentrate derived from the patient's own blood.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the efficacy of Leucocyte- and Platelet-Rich Fibrin (L-PRF) in improving tympanoplasty success rates.
- To assess the role of L-PRF in graft protection and healing during tympanoplasty.
Summary:
- A study of 152 tympanoplasties utilized L-PRF (Choukroun's technique) via "Champagne plug" or "hamburger" techniques.
- Success rates reached 96% with L-PRF, a significant increase from the typical 85% success rate without PRF.
- Failures were primarily associated with large, non-marginal perforations.
Impact:
- L-PRF enhances graft healing by accelerating cell proliferation and matrix remodeling.
- It provides mechanical and inflammatory protection to the tympanic graft.
- L-PRF is an easily produced, cost-effective, and well-tolerated autologous biomaterial with potential for broader applications in middle-ear surgery.