Anatomical and surgical findings and complications in 100 consecutive maxillary sinus floor elevation procedures.

PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence of anatomical and surgical findings and complications in maxillary sinus floor elevation surgery, and to describe the clinical implications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred consecutive patients scheduled for maxillary sinus floor elevation were included. The patients consisted of 36 men (36%) and 64 women (64%), with a mean age of 50 years (range, 17 to 73 years). In 18 patients, a bilateral procedure was performed. Patients were treated with a top hinge door in the lateral maxillary sinus wall, as described by Tatum (Dent Clin North Am 30:207, 1986). In bilateral cases, only the first site treated was evaluated. RESULTS: In most cases, an anatomical or surgical finding forced a deviation from Tatum's standard procedure. A thin or thick lateral maxillary sinus wall was found in 78% and 4% of patients, respectively. In 6%, a strong convexity of the lateral sinus wall called for an alternative method of releasing the trapdoor. The same method was used in 4% of cases involving a narrow sinus. The sinus floor elevation procedure was hindered by septa in 48%. In regard to complications, the most common complication, a perforation of the Schneiderian membrane, occurred in 11% of patients. In 2%, visualization of the trapdoor preparation was compromised because of hemorrhages. The initial incision design, ie, slightly palatal, was responsible for a local dehiscence in 3%. CONCLUSION: To avoid unnecessary surgical complications, detailed knowledge and timely identification of the anatomic structures inherent to the maxillary sinus are required.

Maxillary sinus floor augmentation using a beta-tricalcium phosphate (Cerasorb) alone compared to autogenous bone grafts.

PURPOSE: A prospective human clinical study was conducted to determine the clinical and histologic bone formation ability of 2 graft materials, a beta-tricalcium phosphate (Cerasorb; Curasan, Kleinostheim, Germany) and autogenous chin bone, in maxillary sinus floor elevation surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten healthy patients underwent a bilateral (n = 6) or unilateral (n = 4) maxillary sinus floor elevation procedure under local anesthesia. In each case, residual posterior maxillary bone height was between 4 and 8 mm. In cases of bilateral sinus floor elevation, the original bone was augmented with a split-mouth design with 100% beta-tricalcium phosphate on the test side and 100% chin bone on the contralateral control side. The unilateral cases were augmented with 100% beta-tricalcium phosphate. After a healing period of 6 months, ITI full body screw-type implants (Straumann, Waldenburg, Switzerland) were placed. At the time of implant surgery, biopsy samples were removed with a 3.5-mm trephine drill. RESULTS: Sixteen sinus floor elevations were performed. Forty-one implants were placed, 26 on the test side and 15 on the control side. The clinical characteristics at the time of implantation differed, especially regarding clinical appearance and drilling resistance. The increase in height was examined radiographically prior to implantation and was found to be sufficient in all cases. After a mean of nearly 1 year of follow-up, no implant losses or failures had occurred. DISCUSSION: The promising clinical results of the present study and the lack of implant failures are probably mainly the result of requiring an original bone height of at least 4 mm at the implant location. CONCLUSION: Although autogenous bone grafting is still the gold standard, according to the clinical results, the preimplantation sinus floor elevation procedure used, which involved a limited volume of beta-tricalcium phosphate, appeared to be a clinically reliable procedure in this patient population.

Fractures of the iliac crest after split-thickness bone grafting for preprosthetic surgery: report of 3 cases and review of the literature.

PURPOSE: In this study fractures of the iliac crest after split-thickness bone grafting in a patient population treated for preprosthetic reasons were evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a retrospective patient population of 146 patients, during a 5-year period (1998 to 2002), 3 avulsion fractures of the iliac crest were noticed. All fractures were postsurgical, occurring as late fractures. A review of the literature regarding etiology, clinical characteristics, and results of treatment is given. RESULTS: In all 3 cases treatment was conservative, consisting of a period of bed rest followed by progressive ambulation. Further recovery was uneventful. CONCLUSIONS: According to this patient population and the literature, late fracture of the iliac crest after split-thickness bone grafting is an uncommon complication. We recommend a harvesting and grafting technique at an appropriate distance from the iliac spine with an oscillating saw. Treatment of an iliac crest fracture is almost always conservative.