Nasal defects and osseointegrated implants: UCLA experience

A clinical study of 23 craniofacial implants placed in 11 nasal defects was conducted over a 7-year period. Implant-retained nasal prostheses were fabricated, implant success rate was determined, and the soft tissue responses were recorded at 6-month intervals. No data were gathered on two implants because of patient death. The implant success rate was 71.4% (15/21) but varied significantly by anatomic site. The implant success rate in the glabella was 0% (0/4), whereas the success rate in the anterior nasal floor was 88.1% (15/17). All implant failures occurred within the first year of loading. A five-point scale was used to record the health of the peri-implant soft tissues, and the patients were followed up from 6 to 74 months. The unit of measure was a visit/site, and a unit was assigned for each instance an implant site was evaluated. Evaluations were conducted at 6-month intervals for a total of 76 visit/sites for the study period. The results revealed that 85.5% (65/76) of the visit/sites demonstrated an absence of inflammation; 10.5% (8/76) of the visit/sites demonstrated slight redness; 1.3% (1/76) demonstrated peri-implant red and moist tissues; 2.6% (2/76) demonstrated granulation tissue associated with the implants; and 0% (0/76) demonstrated infection of the peri-implant soft tissues. Severe soft tissue reactions around implants placed in the anterior nasal floor are rare.