Effectiveness of hydraulic pressure-assisted sinus augmentation in a rabbit sinus model: a preclinical study

To investigate the effectiveness of hydraulic pressure-assisted sinus augmentation (SA) in a rabbit sinus model in terms of radiographical and histological healing.

Bilateral SA was performed in 12 rabbits. Each sinus was randomly assigned to either a hydraulic pressure-assisted SA (test) or a conventional SA (control) group. Healing periods of 2 and 4 weeks were applied (n = 6 for each week). Healing pattern including newly formed bone (NB) and residual bone substitute material (RM) was analyzed with microcomputed tomographically, histologically, and histomorphometrically.

No sinus membrane perforation was detected in either group. In the microcomputed tomographic analysis, the test group exhibited higher apico-coronal spread of RM compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Particularly, the test group exhibited several masses of NB out of the cluster of RM. Histologically, the test group showed an elongated shape of the augmented space, whereas the control group generally presented a dome shape. Histomorphometrically, the total augmented area and the area of NB (1.32 ± 0.56 vs. 0.84 ± 0.40 mm² at 2 weeks, 2.24 ± 1.09 vs. 2.22 ± 0.85 mm² at 4 weeks) were not significantly different between the test and the control groups at both healing periods (p > 0.05).

Hydraulic pressure-assisted SA led to new bone formation in the distant areas from the bony access hole, but similar histological healing pattern to conventional SA.

Hydraulic pressure-assisted SA is a promising option for treating pneumatized posterior maxilla.