Measurement of volume changes after sinus floor augmentation with a phycogenic hydroxyapatite

The purpose of this study was the determination of time-dependent volumetric changes of particulate sinus inlay grafts. A mixture of phycogenic hydroxyapatite (Algipore/C-Graft) and autologous bone collected from the surgical access area was used as the grafting material.

Thirty-three sinus floor augmentations using phycogenic hydroxyapatite combined with autologous bone collected at the augmentation site and venous blood were performed on 18 patients aged 57.4 +/- 12.5 years (mean +/- SD) with severe atrophy of the posterior maxilla. Graft volume was measured 1 to 14 days postoperatively and before the placement of dental implants 6.1 +/- 2.1 months later (mean +/- SD; range, 4 to 11 months) to evaluate the amount of time-dependent resorption of the implanted material on computerized tomographic (CT) images of the augmented region. The images were put into Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) format and evaluated using the software library Analyze. The implanted bone replacement material was plotted manually on each CT slice, and the volume of the implanted material was calculated.

The average volume loss of the bone replacement material during the observation period was 13.9% +/- 1.9% (mean +/- SEM). All sinus floor augmentations healed without complications except for delayed membrane exposure in 2 cases.

The results indicate that the graft material, a mixture of Algipore, bone chips from the access area, and venous blood, exhibited a small volume loss over a period of approximately 6 months, thus providing predictable height for second-stage implant surgery.

Further investigations are needed to evaluate long-term stability and implant success.