A 6-month histological analysis on maxillary sinus augmentation with and without use of collagen membranes over the osteotomy window: randomized clinical trial

Wallace and others from the NYU Group have argued on the basis of their own clinical experience and based on their and other meta analyses that covering the sinus window with a collagen membrane makes a significant difference both to the quality of the regenerated bone as well in turn to the overall survival of dental implants placed into the sinus. Others such as Fuggazotto have argued to the contrary.

The current study inspite of its small sample size (n=18) seems to suggest that there was no difference in the amount of vital bone formed in both groups but that use of a membrane resulted in better corticalisation of the osteotomy window.

In the Indian scenario considering the cost that a collagen membrane adds to what is an already expensive procedure we might want to wait for more conclusive evidence !

A 6-month histological analysis on maxillary sinus augmentation with and without use of collagen membranes over the osteotomy window: randomized clinical trial:

Abstract

Introduction

Over the years, several modifications have been made to the sinus augmentation technique and to the materials used. However, there is still controversy about the need for using a barrier concurrently with a graft in sinus augmentation procedures. On this basis, the aim of this randomized clinical study was to investigate the effect of resorbable collagen membrane over the osteotomy window on maxillary sinus augmentation healing.

Materials and methods

Patients who required maxillary sinus augmentation were evaluated and selected to enter the study. After maxillary sinus grafting, each patient was randomly assigned to control (membrane over the osteotomy window) or test (no membrane) group. After 6 months, one bone biopsy was harvested from the lateral window and sent to the histology laboratory. The Mann–Whitney nonparametric test was used for comparing the two groups. P-value was set at 5%.

Results

Eighteen patients entered the study and were randomly allocated in control (nine patients) or test group (nine patients). The histomorphometric measurements revealed that newly formed bone was 30.7% ± 15.5% of the total volume from the membrane group (control). The average percentage of connective tissue was 50.6% ± 18.7% and residual graft percentage was 18.4% ± 20.3%. On the other hand, data regarding the nonmembrane group (test) showed that the percentage of newly formed bone was 28.1% ± 19.4%. The mean percentage of connective tissues was 59.3% ± 15.4% and 12.6% ± 12.4% for the residual graft particles. No significant difference was detected in the histomorphometrical evaluation between the two groups.

Discussion

Our results showed that, compared with sites not covered, the use of the membrane did not substantially increase the amount of vital bone over a period of 6 months. On the other hand, the use of membrane seems to reduce the proliferation of the connective tissue and the graft re-absorption rate. It is plausible that blood supply of maxillary sinus can play a role in such a result. Further studies are needed to explore whether the use of membrane could really be advantageous for the sinus augmentation procedure and to evaluate what influence this method can have on the amount and quality of reconstructed bone.