Cryopreserved cancellous bone allograft in periodontal intraosseous defects

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of cryopreserved cancellous bone allograft (CCBA) in the treatment of intraosseous periodontal defects compared to surgical debridement alone (DEBR). Cancellous bone was procured from femur heads that had been extracted for hip prosthesis procedures and cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen (-196 degrees C) in a tissue bank. Ten patients without systemic disorders and advanced periodontal disease (at least 2 intraosseous defects) participated in this investigation. Measurements from the cemento-enamel junction were made after initial therapy for clinical attachment level; also gingival recession, probing pocket depth, plaque index, and gingival index and, at the time of surgery, alveolar crest height and osseous defect depth were measured. All measurements were repeated at 1 year-reentry. Sixteen defects were debrided and grafted (test sites) and 13 defects were debrided only (control sites). Soft tissue measurements showed no statistical differences between the 2 groups. Defect fill was significantly greater with CCBA (1.75 mm) than with DEBR (0.56 mm). Defect depth reduction was 2.06 mm for CCBA and 0.78 mm for DEBR. These values correspond to a percent-defect resolution of 60% for CCBA and 29% for DEBR. Hard tissue measurements showed significant differences between the 2 groups. CCBA seems to be effective in the short-term treatment of intraosseous periodontal defects.