Controlled hydrostatic sinus elevation: a novel method of elevating the sinus membrane.

Maxillary sinus elevation surgery has been practiced successfully over the past several decades with good outcomes, but tears and perforations still occur in significant numbers. The presumed cause of these problems is the fact that all methods currently used place "point sources" of lifting pressure on the Schneiderian membrane. A new procedure, controlled hydrostatic sinus lift, is presented herein as a safer, more controlled "lifting pressure" which simultaneously places equal force per square millimeter of bone-membrane interface. Hydraulic pressure in a closed system places equal pressure on all surfaces within the system, thereby eliminating "point sources" of pressure and gently elevating the Schneiderian membrane equally at all points of attachment. This controlled hydrostatic sinus lift procedure is accomplished by using a calibrated, hand-controlled pump and in-line pressure sensor meter.