An evaluation of bone healing in cavities in the jaws implanted with a collagen matrix

Bony defects in the jaws after surgery may show poor healing especially in the maxilla and the area may never completely be replaced by bone. 50 patients with pathological bony cavities in the jaws were used to assess the efficacy of a collagen matrix implanted into the treated bony defect and 50 patients in whom no material was implanted were used as controls. The results were assessed radiographically at 3, 6 and 12 months. At 3 months, bone deposition in the control group was in advance of the implanted group, but after 6 and 12 months healing appeared to be similar in both groups. No adverse effects were found due to the presence of the collagen implant. Collagen delayed the early osteogenic healing period, indicating that only when it has been resorbed can the area heal with osteogenic granulation tissue. As some radiolucent areas still remained in the healed implant group after 12 months it must be assumed that the collagen implant has only been replaced by host fibrous tissue and therefore does not possess osteoinductive properties.