Efficacy and clinical utility of platelet-rich plasma and other platelet-rich products in rhinologic surgery: A systematic review

Background: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), injectable PRF and related autologous concentrates are increasingly used in rhinologic surgeries. The clinical value of the agents is still uncertain.
Methods: This study was designed in accordance with PRISMA 2020. The targeted database was created using Rayyan.ai and uploaded full-text articles up to 29th July 2026, were analysed. Human clinical studies which evaluated platelet-rich products during rhinologic surgeries were considered eligible. Risk of bias of randomized controlled trials were assessed using the RoB 2 framework and non-randomized studies using ROBINS-I. 
Results: Total of twenty-one studies were included covering rhinologic surgeries including septoplasty, endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS), rhinoplasty and septal perforation repair. Septoplasty studies indicated less early pain, blockage and crusting with faster recovery of mucociliary function. Overall outcomes were inconsistent. The positive evidence came from ESS studies, where platelet-rich products were used. It was associated with early and better endoscopic healing, less crusting, oedema, granulation, adhesion formation or scarring. Some trials indicated fewer postoperative number of interventions or lower recurrence. Olfactory outcome measures revealed inconsistent results. In rhinoplastic surgeries, the evidence was stronger when platelet-rich products were used to support grafts and shown to reduce oedema or pain. But a provisional two-study analysis of diced-cartilage graft loss favoured PRF (standardized mean difference -0.61, 95% CI -1.06 to -0.16; I²=0%). 
Conclusions: Platelet-rich products can be useful adjuncts in selected rhinologic procedures especially for mucosal healing after ESS and graft preservation in rhinoplasty. However, routine use needs further high-quality evidence.