TREATMENT OF A RIDGE ATROPHY AND TWO PERI-IMPLANT DEFECTS WITH EQUINE BONE AND AN EQUINE PERICARDIUM MEMBRANE: CLINICAL AND HISTOLOGICAL OUTCOME

While deproteinized bovine bone and bovine membranes have been well studied and can yield good results when used to treat bone defects and peri-implant dehiscences, enzymatically deantigenated equine bone and equine membranes has emerged as possible alternative biomaterials. The objective of this study is the clinical and histological assessment of such materials.

Methods: Enzymatically deantigenated equine bone and an equine pericardium membrane were used to restore peri-implant defects remaining after the placement of two osseointegrated implants in the upper maxilla and a concomitant ridge atrophy. All defects were grafted with a mixture of autogenous and equine bone and covered with an equine pericardium membrane. After four months a bone core sample was obtained from the grafted site.

Results: Four months after implant placement a good bone regeneration could be observed. A prosthesis was delivered three months later providing functional and aesthetic rehabilitation. Peri-implant bone levels were maintained over the four years follow up. Histological analysis of the bone core revealed that the graft material had undergone nearly complete remodelling, and a fair amount of newly formed vital bone was present at the time of sample collection.

Conclusions: The deantigenated equine bone and pericardium membrane acted as effective graft and barrier for guided bone regeneration to perform a vertical and horizontal bone augmentation of an atrophic ridge and of two peri-implant defects, leading to a more than satisfactory aesthetic outcome.

PRODUCTS USED: Osteoxenon Granules Mix, Heart Pericardium Membrane