Impiego di osso bovino deproteinizzato granulare negli incrementi orizzontali: presentazione di una tecnica non convenzionale

Objectives

To assess the efficacy of a non-conventional technique of bone augmentation of an atrophic ridge for subsequent implant positioning. The method, easy to perform and with few complications, uses the periosteum in place of a membrane in combination with a biomaterial.

Materials and methods

A patient with a ridge bone defect was treated with a regenerative technique that consists in a muco-periosteal flap with only a crestal incision – without release incisions – in order to preserve the integrity of the periosteum. After performing some drill holes in the cortical bone, granules of heterologous bovine bone were packed over the defect without any membrane. The flap was repositioned over the graft with passive sutures and after eight months the implants were positioned. After 21 months from the graft, a biopsy was performed in order to assess the microscopic features of the regenerated bone.

Results

The histological findings showed dense, mature, new regenerated bone with lamellar structure. Residual granules of the biomaterial appeared to be integrated in the new bone without any inflammatory reaction.

Conclusions

With the limits of the single investigation, this simplified technique seems to be an alternative method to consider in non-collaborating patients or in front of operative clinical problems. Until now, the association of biomaterials and membranes is the gold standard in bone regeneration techniques for implant therapy.