Dimensional changes of the maxillary sinus augmented with a collagenated synthetic bone block or synthetic bone particulates: A pre-clinical study in rabbits

Objective: To compare the efficacy of a collagenated synthetic bone substitute (C-SBS) to a particulated synthetic bone substitute (P-SBS) in volume maintenance and new bone formations in a rabbit sinus model. Materials and Methods: Either C-SBS or P-SBS was grafted in both sinuses of 16 rabbits. Four (N = 8) or 12 (N = 8) weeks after the surgery, total augmented volume (TAV) and area (TAA), as well as new bone volume (NBV) and area (NBA), were statistically compared by radiographic and histomorphometric analyses (p <.05). Results: The differences in TAV, NBV, TAA and NBA between C-SBS and P-SBS groups at 4 weeks were not statistically significant. The TAV (267.13 ± 62.08 vs. 200.18 ± 40.32 mm³) and NBV (103.26 ± 10.50 vs. 71.10 ± 7.58 mm³) in group C-SBS were significantly higher than in group P-SBS at 12 weeks (p <.05). The TAA (19.36 ± 2.88 vs. 14.48 ± 2.08 mm²) and NBA (5.43 ± 1.20 vs. 3.76 ± 0.78 mm²) in group C-SBS were significantly higher than in group P-SBS at 12 weeks (p <.05). Conclusions: Collagenated synthetic bone substitute grafted in rabbit sinuses demonstrated more favourable outcomes across all outcome measures compared to P-SBS at 12 weeks.