MEASURING SPEED OF SOUND AS A SAFE TECHNIQUE FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF BONE GRAFT HEALING IN MAXILLA

Using an equine-derived collagen membrane to protect the sinus membrane

Depending on the insufficiency of radiographic techniques in investigating changes in grafted sites, this study aimed to evaluate the ability of measuring speed of sound (SOS) as a safe technique for the evaluation of bone graft healing.
A total of 20 patients in need of sinus augmentation were recruited for this study. Cone-beam CT scans were obtained presurgically, after 4 months, and after 6 months from surgery per patient. A hydroxyapatite HA and tricalciumphosphate TCP (75:25) grafts were applied for sinus elevation. Speed of Sound (SOS) measurements within the grafted sites were performed in bucco-palatal direction presurgically, directly after surgery, 6 weeks, 3 months, 4 months and 6 months after surgery. At the time of implant placement, bone core biopsies were harvested and sections from the graft core were histomorphometrically analyzed. The new vital bone formation %VB was correlated with SOS measurement outcomes using a statistical model.
Twenty patients underwent sinus augmentation for a total of 20 sinuses. Two sinuses developed an infection after grafting resulting in a 90% success rate for the sinus grafting procedure. An 18 sinuses were used in the final statistical analysis. SOS measurements revealed a mean of 1538.18±28.02 m/s directly after surgery and 1794.21±43.54 m/s after 6 months. Histomorphometric analysis revealed that mean %VB was 20.64±5.36, mean percent of remaining graft material was 23.67±2.99, and average percent of non-mineralized connective tissue was 55.68±4.29. SOS values significantly correlated with %VB (r =0.696, P<0.001). No correlation found between radiographic density of the grafted sites after 6 months and SOS or histomorphometric results.
Measuring sound transmission velocity within the grafted sites is a safe and active technique for the expression of graft content changes and structure and evaluating graft healing.

PRODUCTS USED: Biocollagen Membrane

Hawash Private University (HPU)