Evaluation of the capability of a new water lift system to reduce the risk of Schneiderian membrane perforation during sinus elevation.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a new water lift system used as a surgical instrument in the crestal approach of the sinus membrane lifting operation and the capability of this technique to reduce the risk of Schneiderian membrane perforation in comparison with a lateral approach using piezoelectric surgery. 50 sinus membrane-lifting operations were performed. Patients were randomized in 2 groups to receive either lateral sinus elevation with piezosurgery or crestal sinus elevation using the new surgical device. Schneiderian membrane perforation was noted in 6 patients (24%) from the group undergoing the lateral sinus floor elevation approach, but no perforation was observed in the group with the crestal infiltration technique (P=0.01). Aside from membrane perforation, haematoma was present in 3 patients (12%) from the group with lateral sinus floor elevation with no cases in the other group. No microbial infections were noted in the 50 consecutives cases. This study demonstrated that maxillary sinus floor elevation using the water lift system via the crestal approach is a predictable procedure with a low complication rate, compared with the lateral approach with piezoelectric surgery.