Repair of the perforated sinus membrane with a resorbable collagen membrane: a human study.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of the repair of perforated sinus membranes with resorbable collagen membrane. MATERIALS AND METHODS A split-mouth design was followed. Twelve subjects requiring bilateral sinus grafting were included in the study; one site had been accidentally perforated during sinus augmentation and the other site had not been perforated. The perforated sites were repaired with a resorbable collagen membrane. Dental implants were placed during a second surgery, and biopsy samples were harvested from both sinuses during implant placement. New bone formation was measured for all sites. Implant survival was recorded at second-stage surgery. Panoramic radiographs were taken before and after sinus grafting and after implant placement. RESULTS Nonperforated sites demonstrated significantly more bone formation (33.58% +/- 7.45%) than perforated sites (14.17% +/- 7.06%) (P < .0001). Perforated sites demonstrated significantly more soft tissue formation (63.58% +/- 12.96%) than nonperforated sites (48.5% +/- 12.57%) (P = .006). In nonperforated sites, residual graft particles had more of their surface in contact with bone (40.17% +/- 14.92%) than perforated sites (14.5% +/- 12.03%) (P < .0001). The implant survival rate at second-stage surgery was superior for nonperforated sites (100%) in comparison to perforated sites (69.56%) (P = .0028). DISCUSSION This study suggested that repairing the perforated site of the sinus membrane with a resorbable collagen membrane may result in reduced bone formation and implant survival rate. A different technique and/or materials than those used in the current study may offer better results for the repair of the perforated sinus membrane. CONCLUSION The study demonstrated that perforation and repair of the sinus membrane may compromise new bone formation and implant survival.