Tissue-engineered polymer-based periosteal bone grafts for maxillary sinus augmentation: five-year clinical results.

PURPOSE: Augmentation of the maxillary sinus with allogenic or alloplastic materials, as well as autologous bone grafts, has inherent disadvantages. Therefore, the aim of our study was to evaluate the long-term clinical repair effect of autologous periosteal bone grafts on atrophic maxillary bone.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: In the present retrospective cohort study, augmentation of the edentulous atrophic posterior maxilla was performed using autologous tissue-engineered periosteal bone grafts based on bioresorbable polymer scaffolds and, in a 1-step procedure, simultaneous insertion of dental implants. The clinical evaluation of 10 patients was performed by radiologic assessment of bone formation, with a follow-up of 5 years. Bone formation was further documented by measuring the bone height and by histologic examination.

RESULTS: Excellent clinical and radiologic results were achieved as early as 4 months after transplantation of the periosteal bone grafts. The bone height remained significantly (P < .05) greater (median 14.2 mm) than the preoperative atrophic bone (median 6.9 mm) during the 5-year observation period. Histologically, the bone biopsy specimens of 2 patients obtained after 6 months showed trabecular bone with osteocytes and active osteoblasts. No signs of bone resorption, formation of connective tissue, or necrosis were seen.

CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the transplantation of autologous periosteal bone grafts and implantation of dental implants in a 1-step procedure is a reliable procedure that leads to bone formation in the edentulous posterior maxilla, remaining stable in the long term for a period of at least 5 years.