Effects of barrier membranes on bone resorption and implant stability in onlay bone grafts. An experimental study

The objective of the present report was to study the effects of barrier membranes on bone resorption and implant stability in a rabbit onlay bone graft model, using resonance frequency analysis, coordinate measurements on plaster models, removal torque measurements and histology. Disc-shaped bone grafts were harvested from the calvarium and placed with titanium implants in the proximal tibial metaphyses of 9 rabbits. On one side (test) the bone graft/implant was covered by an e-PTFE barrier, while the contralateral side was not covered by a membrane and served as control. Three animals were sacrificed after 8 weeks for histology. In 6 animals the membranes were removed after 8 weeks and the animals were followed for an additional period of 16 weeks. Implant stability and bone height around the implants was assessed for the test and control sides at Day 0 and 8, 16 and 24 weeks postoperatively. Removal torque tests were performed after 24 weeks. The results showed an increase in volume of the bone graft on the test side as long as the barrier membrane was in place. However, after removal of the membrane at 8 weeks the resorption rate was higher on the test side compared to the control side, resulting in a similar bone height after 24 weeks. There were no statistically significant differences in implant stability between the test and control sides at any time point, as measured with resonance frequency analysis. Additionally, no statistically significant differences were found between the test and control sides after 24 weeks, using removal torque measurements, coordinate measurements and histomorphometric evaluation. Thus, in this experimental model, the use of non-resorbable barrier membranes did not improve the stability of implants simultaneously placed with onlay bone grafts. Moreover, extensive resorption of the grafted bone was seen after barrier removal, which resulted in similar bone graft volume for the test and control sides at the end of the observation period.