A comparative study of barrier membranes as graft protectors in the treatment of localized bone defects. An experimental study in a canine model

Guided bone regeneration is a predictable and well-documented surgical approach for the treatment of deficient alveolar ridges prior to endosseous implant placement. The purpose of this study was to compare a new resorbable membrane (GORE RESOLUT ADAPT Regenerative Membrane, i.e. 67% glycolide (PGA) : 33% trimethyline carbonate (TMC)) with Bio-Gide, a resorbable collagen membrane. Five canines were used in the study. Three saddle-type osseous defects were created bilaterally in edentulous areas of the mandible. The defects were filled with assayed, canine demineralized freeze-dried bone (DFDB) in a thermoplastic gelatin matrix. Using a randomized block design, four sites were covered with PGA : TMC membranes of four different porosities, one site was covered with a collagen membrane and one site consisted of DFDB alone (control). At 3 months, the animals were euthanized and the mandibles were removed en bloc for laboratory processing. A total of 30 sites were reviewed microradiographically and underwent histomorphometric analysis for bone regeneration, soft tissue presence and remaining graft material. All sites exhibited uneventful healing. A significantly higher percentage of bone regeneration was seen in the sites protected by the PGA : TMC membrane. A higher component of soft tissue was visible beneath the collagen membrane as compared with the PGA : TMC membrane. The control sites exhibited noticeable deformation of the regenerated bone secondary to collapse of the overlying periosteum. The authors conclude that the PGA : TMC membrane protected the DFDB-filled defect and allowed a greater amount of bone regeneration than the defect protected by the collagen membrane or the control.