Sinus Augmentation Using Mineralized Bone Allografts: A 6-Month Histological and Histomorphometric Analysis.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate, after a six-month healing period, the histological and histomorphometric results of mineralized bone allograft used in lateral sinus augmentation procedures. Twenty-one pneumatized maxillary sinuses with residual bone height ≤ 4mm were grafted with a mixture of 1/1 cortical and cancellous mineralized bone allograft using lateral sinus floor elevation. Six months later, during implant placement, a core biopsy was retrieved for histological and histomorphometric evaluation. Biopsies showed mature cancellous bone with no signs of acute or chronic inflammatory reactions. Higher magnification revealed new lamellar bone, active osteocytes and normal lamellar arrangement around Haversian canals interspersed with osteocytes in lacunae. At grafted bone periphery, a high concentration of osteoblastic/osteoclastic couple was noted, indicating active bone remodeling. Histomorphometric evaluation revealed an average vital bone content of 30.32% (25.00-44.00%), and a percentage of residual non-vital bone of 18.06% (14.05-25.00%). Histological and histomorphometric evaluation indicated that the mixture of 1 to 1 cortical and cancellous mineralized bone allograft promoted de-novo bone formation and can be predictably used for sinus augmentation procedures.