Histomorphometric analysis after maxillary sinus floor augmentation using cancellous bone-block allograft

BACKGROUND: Cancellous bone-block allografts may contribute to improved initial implant stability during sinus augmentation in cases with posterior atrophic maxillary ridge height < or =4 mm. The present study histologically and histomorphometrically evaluates the application of cancellous bone-block allografts for maxillary sinus-floor augmentation.

METHODS: Thirty-one consecutive patients, 16 females and 15 males (age range, 25 to 65 years; mean age: 54 +/- 9 years) underwent sinus augmentation with simultaneous implant placement with cancellous bone-block allografts. After 9 months, a second-stage surgery was performed. The previous window location was determined. A cylindrical sample core was collected. All specimens were prepared for histologic and histomorphometric examinations.

RESULTS: Seventy-two of 76 implants were clinically osseointegrated (94.7%). All patients received a fixed implant-supported prosthesis. The mean t values of newly formed bone, residual cancellous bone-block allograft, marrow and connective tissue were 26.1% +/- 15% (range: 10% to 58%); 24.7% +/- 19.4% (range: 0.6% to 71%), and 49.2% +/- 20.4% (range: 14.9% to 78.9%), respectively. No statistically significant histomorphometric differences regarding newly formed bone were found between genders (27.02% in males versus 25.68% in females; P = 0.446), ages (29.82% in subjects < or =40 years old versus 24.43% in subjects >40 years old; P = 0.293), presence of membrane perforations (25.5% in non-perforated sinuses versus 27.3% in perforated sinuses; P = 0.427), and residual alveolar bone height (25.85% for residual alveolar bone height <2 mm versus 26.48% for residual alveolar bone height of 2 to 4 mm; P = 0.473).

CONCLUSION: The cancellous bone-block allograft is biocompatible and osteoconductive and permits new bone formation in sinus augmentations with simultaneous implant-placement procedures in extremely atrophic posterior maxillae.