Novel Technique to Repair Maxillary Sinus Membrane Perforations During Sinus Lifting

Abstract

After the first report of maxillary sinus lifting in an atrophic maxilla by Boyne and James,1 sinus lifting for implant placement progressed rapidly to become an established procedure in implantology. It is a predictable method used when augmenting the bone in the posterior maxilla is necessary. The increase in sinus lifting procedures and bone grafting for the purpose of implant placement in the posterior maxilla has in turn increased the rate of complications. The most common complication during open sinus lifting is perforation of the sinus membrane during surgery; if left untreated, this may result in loss of graft material into the sinus cavity, sinus infection, oroantral fistula, and impairment of the physiologic function of the antrum.