Apicoectomy versus apical curettage in combination with or without L-PRF application: a randomized clinical trial

Abstract

This study compared the efficacy of apicoectomy and apical curettage with and without leukocyte- and platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) in treating large periapical lesions. Sixty-four adults (30 male, 34 female) with a previously endodontically treated tooth and a large periapical lesion were randomized into four groups (n = 16): retrograde obturation (RG), orthograde obturation (OG), RG + L-PRF, and OG + L-PRF. All participants underwent root canal retreatment in two sessions. The RG group underwent root-end resection and retrograde MTA obturation, the RG + L-PRF group underwent L-PRF application to the bone defect following the RG protocol, the OG group underwent orthograde MTA obturation and periapical curettage without root-end resection, and the OG + L-PRF group underwent L-PRF application following the OG protocol. Clinical and radiographic assessments were performed preoperatively, and at 1 week and 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months postoperatively. At follow-up visits, pain scores, swelling, tooth mobility, tenderness to percussion (T-PER), tenderness to palpation (T-PAL), and the presence of fistula were clinically assessed. Periapical radiography determined the periapical index (PAI) score and measured the periapical lesion area (PALA). The Kruskal-Wallis test was performed to test the effect of a single independent variable (factor) on a dependent variable. No statistically significant differences were identified between the groups for preoperative PAI scores, pain scores, swelling, tooth mobility, fistula, T-PER, or T-PAL (p > 0.05). At postoperative week 1, the RG + L-PRF group showed a significantly lower T-PER. The RG + L-PRF group showed significantly lower PALA values and significantly higher PALA healing rates at postoperative 1, 6, and 9 months. Both L-PRF groups achieved PALA healing rates of over 90% at 9 months. It was concluded that a combination of apicoectomy and L-PRF effectively treats periapical lesions and promotes both short- and long-term healing and that a combination of periapical curettage and L-PRF offers a less invasive alternative, especially when the crown-to-root ratio is a concern. Trial registration: The protocol was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05847647).