Effects of sealing the perforated sinus membrane with a resorbable collagen membrane: a pilot study in humans

The effects of repairing the perforated sinus membrane with collagen membrane are unknown. The purpose of this pilot study was to clinically, histologically, and histomorphometrically evaluate the results of repairing the perforated sinus membrane with resorbable collagen membrane. A split-mouth design was followed in the current study. Five subjects requiring bilateral sinus grafting were included in the study, where one site was accidentally perforated during sinus augmentation procedures and the other site was not perforated. The perforated sites were repaired with a resorbable collagen membrane. Dental implants were placed at a second stage and biopsies were harvested from both sinuses. New bone formation was measured for all sites. Implant survival was recorded at second-stage surgery. Nonperforated sites demonstrated significantly more bone formation (34.40%) than perforated sites (12.80%) (P = .016). Implant survival at second-stage surgery was significantly inferior in perforated sites (54.5%) when compared with nonperforated sites (100%) (P = .0146). The study demonstrated that perforation and repair of the Schneiderian membrane can compromise new bone formation and implant survival rate.