The use of autologous venous blood for maxillary sinus floor augmentation in conjunction with sinus membrane elevation: an experimental study.

BACKGROUND: There have been reports of successful bone formation with sinus floor elevation induced by simply elevating the maxillary sinus membrane and filling the sinus cavity with a blood clot. PURPOSE: We investigated the feasibility of maxillary sinus floor augmentation using the patient's own venous blood in conjunction with a sinus membrane elevation procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An implant that protruded 8 mm into the maxillary sinus after sinus membrane elevation was placed in the maxillary sinus of six adult female mongrel dogs. The resulting space between the membrane and the sinus floor was filled with autologous venous blood retrieved from each dog. The implants were left in place for 6 months. RESULTS: During the experimental period, the created space collapsed and the sinus membrane fell down onto the implant. A small amount of new bone formation occurred in the space created by the collapsed membrane. The average height of newly formed bone around the implants in the sinus was 2.7+/-0.7 mm on the buccal side and 0.6+/-0.3 mm on the palatal side. CONCLUSION: The results of this pilot study indicate that blood clots do not have sufficient integrity to enable the sinus membrane to remain in an elevated position for therapeutically effective periods of time. Accordingly, it is recommended that this method be used only when a small amount of new bone formation is necessary around implants in the maxillary sinus cavity.