Influence of decortication of the donor bone on guided bone augmentation. An experimental study in the rabbit skull bone

The aim of the present study was to evaluate if early access to the endosteal bone compartment by removal of the outer cortical bone plate will enhance bone augmentation in a secluded space. Two titanium cylinders were placed on the skull of each of 8 rabbits. Each cylinder was placed into a circular slit, secured to the skull bone via two mini-screws and supplied with a titanium lid. On the test side, the outer plate of the cortical bone, demarcated by the slit, was removed. The subsequent bleeding resulted in blood fill of the cylinders to various degrees. On the control side, the corfical bone plate was left intact and no bleeding was observed at the time of the placement of the titanium lids. After 3 months, the animals were sacrificed to obtain histology and histomorphometry. No differences in the total amount of augmented bone tissue, in relation to the total experimental area (75.5% +/- 10.9% at the test sites and 71.2% +/- 13.5% at the control sites) or of the augmented mineralized bone tissue in relation to the total amount of augmented bone tissue, was revealed (17.8% +/- 3.0% and 16.0% +/- 4.9% respectively). There was no difference in the morphological appearance of the augmented bone between test and control sites and there were no obvious similarities in the appearance between the newly formed bone tissue and the donor bone. The augmented bone consisted of slender bone trabeculae, distributed in abundant marrow spaces. A conspicuous finding was that the bone trabeculae tended to climb along the inner walls of the titanium cylinder. It is concluded that decortication of the calvarial bone in the rabbit does not result in more bone formation beyond the skeletal envelope after a healing period of 3 months compared to no removal of the cortical bone plate inside a secluded experimental area.

Healing of titanium implants in onlay bone grafts: an experimental rabbit model

An experimental rabbit bone graft model for the study of bone formation and remodeling around titanium implants is described. A 2.5-cm long radius bone segment served as an onlay graft. Two commercially pure (c.p.) titanium implants were inserted into the bone graft prior to fixation to the inferior border of the mandibular base with osteosynthesis titanium screws. Each animal was operated twice, allowing follow-up periods of 6 weeks on one side and 6 months on the contralateral side. In order to study bone remodeling by means of fluoroscopy the animals received single injections of tetracyclin and alizarine complexone 2 weeks and 1 week, respectively, prior to sacrifice by perfusion fixation with glutaraldehyde. The bone and implants were excized en bloc, postfixed and embedded in plastic resin. Stained and unstained thin ground sections as well as microradiographed thick sections were produced for light microscopic morphometry and fluoroscopy. After 6 weeks, osteoclastic/osteoblastic activity was primarily observed in the graft-recipient contact area and in the intracortical compartment of the graft bone. New bone formation observed on the implant surface originated from the recipient site. The bone formation was evident also in the implant-graft interface. At 6 weeks the average bone fill of the implant threads was 28.4% which increased to 36.4% after 6 months as measured by morphometry. An average of 17.6% bony contact was measured after 6 weeks which increased to 29.7% 6 months after surgery. The graft bone had reduced in size from an average of 39.5% after 6 weeks down to 24.8% after 6 months (P \lt 0.05). It is concluded that the described experimental model can serve as a useful method for the study of implant healing in onlay grafts.

Implant Stability Measurements Using Resonance Frequency Analysis in the Grafted Maxilla: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study

BACKGROUND

High failure rates have been presented for implants placed in grafted bone. The bone graft-implant interface constitutes a most complex healing situation, where the time scale for osseointegration and development of implant stability currently is not known.

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to measure the stability of implants placed in grafted bone after various follow-up periods.

METHODS

Implant stability measurements by means of resonance frequency analysis were performed in 10 patients previously treated with a Le Fort I osteotomy and interpositional bone grafts. The implants were placed 3 to 4 months after the grafting procedure. Sixty-seven Brånemark implants were subjected to resonance frequency analysis measurements at fixture placement and up to 5.5 years after implant surgery. Periapical radiographs were used for assessment of marginal bone levels.

RESULTS

The radiographic examinations showed marginal bone loss with time during the 5.5-year follow-up. The resonance frequencies varied from 5860 to 8440 Hz. When accounting for abutment length and marginal bone level, there was a tendency of increasing resonance frequency with time. Two implants with low resonance frequencies failed during the prosthetic phase.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate an increased implant stability with time, which may reflect bone formation, remodeling, and maturation at the implant interface.

On Cutting Torque Measurements during Implant Placement: A 3-Year Clinical Prospective Study

BACKGROUND

Evaluation of jaw bone quality at implant placement is mainly based on preoperative radiographic assessments and subjective hand registrations during implant site preparation. An objective technique with cutting torque measurements has been introduced, presenting an objective bone quality or bone hardness value of individual implant sites.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate cutting torque measurements during implant placement and to compare these values in different regions in mandibles and maxillae. The objective was to identify implants at risk for failing at implant placement.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Cutting torque measurements were performed during placement of Mk II self-tapping implants (Brånemark System) in 105 patients, comprising 72 edentulous (40 maxillae) and 34 partially edentulous (22 maxillae) jaws. A total of 523 implants were inserted, of which 420 were of the Mk II design and of which 412 were subjected to cutting torque measurements. Statistical analyses were performed by comparing cutting torque values of maxillae and mandibles and of different jaw regions. Cutting torque values were also correlated with radiographically and clinically assessed bone quality scores. Patients were followed clinically for a minimum of 3 years.

RESULTS

A statistically significant difference in cutting torque values of maxillae and mandibles was seen, although not when comparing anterior and posterior regions within the same jaws or of different jaws. Significant correlations were found between values of cutting torque and bone quality. The majority of failures were seen in bone of medium to high density, whereas implants inserted in bone of poor density presented a better outcome, perhaps due to an adapted surgical protocol and an extended healing period. The overall implant survival rate at 3 years was 95%, and when analyzing different jaw categories, survival rates of 92.0% and 99.4% were seen for edentulous maxillae and mandibles, respectively. The corresponding figures for partially edentulous jaws were 95.4% and 97.6%.

CONCLUSION

It was not possible to identify sites at risk for future implant losses or to determine a lower limit value of cutting torque in order to achieve successful implant integration.

A comparison between cutting torque and resonance frequency measurements of maxillary implants. A 20-month clinical study

Oral implant treatment ad modum Brånemark was undertaken in nine patients with edentulous maxillae. Cutting torque measurements and resonance frequency analyses (RFA) were conducted at implant placement and the corresponding values were subjected to correlation analyses. The implants were also evaluated with RFA at abutment connection and at one-year follow-up in order to identify possible changes in implant stability. A total of 61 implants were inserted, of which 49 were of the Mk II self-tapping type. Two implants were lost during the study period. The cumulative torque was presented as a mean value for the upper/crestal, the middle and the lower/apical third of the implant site respectively, as well as an overall value for the whole site. The highest correlation (r = 0.84, P<0.05) was found when comparing the mean torque values of the upper/crestal portion with the resonance frequency values at implant placement. The Mk II implant sites were divided into three groups based on the values of the cutting torque, i.e. soft (group 1), medium (group 2) and dense bone (group 3). The mean value of each group was plotted against the corresponding mean value of resonance frequency measured at implant insertion. Statistical analysis showed significant differences in resonance frequency at implant insertion between groups 1 and 2 (P = 0.047) and between groups 1 and 3 (P = 0.002). When repeating the resonance frequency analyses at second stage surgery and at one-year follow-up, no significant differences were detected between any of the groups. It was shown that the stability of implants placed in softer bone seemed to "catch up" over time with more dense bone sites.

Stability measurements of one-stage Brånemark implants during healing in mandibles. A clinical resonance frequency analysis study

Using a one-stage surgical protocol, 75 implants ad modum Brånemark of three different designs were inserted in 15 edentulous mandibles of high bone density. All implants were followed with repeated stability measurements by means of resonance frequency analysis (RFA) from implant placement to connection of the fixed prostheses (3-4 months), in order to evaluate possible stability changes during healing. It was shown that the resonance frequency (RF) values slightly decreased for the majority of the implants during the study period independent of design. Consequently, the results of the present study indicated that the implants were as stable at time of placement as when measured at 3-4 months post-surgery, i.e. when the prostheses were attached. The available data support the concept of direct loading of implants when inserted between the mental interforaminal regions. One implant failed during healing and the corresponding RF measurement disclosed, at six weeks post-surgery, a value being far below the one registered at implant placement. The lowered RF value indicated the failure several weeks before the mobility was clinically diagnosed. The presence or absence of a fixture/abutment junction did not exert any influence on the marginal bone level, as determined radiographically at the end of the short investigation period.

Effects of barrier membranes on bone resorption and implant stability in onlay bone grafts. An experimental study

The objective of the present report was to study the effects of barrier membranes on bone resorption and implant stability in a rabbit onlay bone graft model, using resonance frequency analysis, coordinate measurements on plaster models, removal torque measurements and histology. Disc-shaped bone grafts were harvested from the calvarium and placed with titanium implants in the proximal tibial metaphyses of 9 rabbits. On one side (test) the bone graft/implant was covered by an e-PTFE barrier, while the contralateral side was not covered by a membrane and served as control. Three animals were sacrificed after 8 weeks for histology. In 6 animals the membranes were removed after 8 weeks and the animals were followed for an additional period of 16 weeks. Implant stability and bone height around the implants was assessed for the test and control sides at Day 0 and 8, 16 and 24 weeks postoperatively. Removal torque tests were performed after 24 weeks. The results showed an increase in volume of the bone graft on the test side as long as the barrier membrane was in place. However, after removal of the membrane at 8 weeks the resorption rate was higher on the test side compared to the control side, resulting in a similar bone height after 24 weeks. There were no statistically significant differences in implant stability between the test and control sides at any time point, as measured with resonance frequency analysis. Additionally, no statistically significant differences were found between the test and control sides after 24 weeks, using removal torque measurements, coordinate measurements and histomorphometric evaluation. Thus, in this experimental model, the use of non-resorbable barrier membranes did not improve the stability of implants simultaneously placed with onlay bone grafts. Moreover, extensive resorption of the grafted bone was seen after barrier removal, which resulted in similar bone graft volume for the test and control sides at the end of the observation period.

The influence of simultaneous versus delayed placement on the stability of titanium implants in onlay bone grafts. A histologic and biomechanic study in the rabbit

A rabbit model was used to study the healing and stability of titanium implants in free bone grafts, placed simultaneously or after 8 weeks of healing and followed for 24 weeks. The skull bone was used as donor site and the tibial metaphysis as recipient site. Stability measurements were performed by using resonance frequency analysis (RFA) at implant placement and after 4, 8, 16 and 24 weeks of healing. Statistically significant higher resonance frequencies were measured at all time points for the delayed approach implants. Removal torque tests after 24 weeks revealed no differences between the two procedures. Histologic ground sections were prepared on specimens taken after 8, 16 and 24 weeks of healing. More bone-implant contacts were observed in the bone graft for the implants inserted in a delayed fashion, while there was no statistically significant difference in the degree of total bone-implant contact between the two groups. It is concluded that delayed implant placement in autogenous onlay bone grafts results in a better integration and stability of the implants.

Influence of variations in implant diameters: a 3- to 5-year retrospective clinical report

Sixty-seven patients ranging in age from 16 to 86 years were included in this 3- to 5-year retrospective report focusing on implant survival and marginal bone remodeling in relation to implant diameter. A total of 299 Brånemark implants (3.75-mm diameter: 141; 4.0-mm diameter: 61; 5.0-mm diameter: 97) were placed in 16 completely and 51 partially edentulous arches. Seven of the 141 implants in the 3.75-mm-diameter group failed (5%). The corresponding value for the 4.0-mm-wide implants was 2 of 61 (3%). The highest failure rate, 18% (17/97), was seen for the 5.0-mm-diameter implants. The least favorable cumulative survival rates were seen in mandibles after 5 years and involving 4.0-mm- and 5.0-mm-diameter implants (84.8% and 73.0%, respectively). The marginal bone loss was generally low over the 5-year period. When the data were evaluated by the Cox regression analysis, a relationship was found between implant failure and implant diameter (P < .05), with a higher failure rate for the 5.0-mm-diameter implant. However, no relationship could be seen between implant failure and jaw type, or bone quality and quantity (P > .05). Neither was any relationship seen between marginal bone loss and bone quality and quantity, implant diameter, or jaw type when tested by multiple linear regression analysis (P > .05). A learning curve, poor bone quality, and changed implant design were suggested as possible reasons for the less positive outcome seen for the 5.0-mm-diameter implant. The fact that this implant was often used as a rescue implant when the standard ones were not considered suitable or did not reach initial stability was another plausible explanation.

Temperature increases during surface decontamination of titanium implants using CO2 laser

The purpose of the present in vitro investigation was to measure temperature changes at the implant surface when using pulsed CO2 laser in a simulated implant surface decontamination protocol. Six threaded titanium implants were placed in a fresh resected pig mandible. A 4 x 4 mm defect was created buccally to each implant in order to expose the implant head and approximately 5 threads. Temperature changes were monitored by two thermocouples placed near the dehiscence and at the apical part of the implant. Several setting combinations of the CO2 laser with regard to output power, pulse width, pulse repetition rate and irradiation time were tested on dry and wet (distilled water) surfaces. Only minor temperature increases were measured when lasing wet titanium surfaces, while the temperature at dry surfaces exceeded the proposed thresholds for bone damage at clinically relevant settings. It is concluded that the CO2 laser when used on a wet implant surface in a pulsed mode at 8 W/10 ms/20 hz during 5 s induces a temperature increase of less than 3 degrees C. This would minimize the risk of temperature induced tissue damage as a result of lasing implant surfaces.

Simultaneous or delayed placement of titanium implants in free autogenous iliac bone grafts. Histological analysis of the bone graft-titanium interface in 10 consecutive patients

The aim of the present study was to histologically analyse the bone graft-titanium implant interface after six and twelve months of healing for a simultaneous approach and after six months for a delayed approach. For this purpose, screw-shaped c.p. titanium microimplants, 2 mm in diameter and 5 mm long, were placed and retrieved at different time intervals in ten consecutive patients with severely resorbed maxillae and treated with iliac cortico-cancellous bone grafts and titanium implants in a two-stage procedure. The histomorphometrical analyses of ground sections of the specimens showed a higher degree of bone-implant contact and more bone filling the implant threads in the delayed approach microimplants. This was probably due to the partly revascularized grafted bone in the delayed approach being able to respond to the surgical trauma, resulting in interfacial bone formation. It is concluded that the results from the present study favour the use of a delayed approach when using free autogenous bone grafts and titanium implants for reconstruction of the severely atrophied maxilla.

The effect of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on bone tissue reactions to c.p. titanium implants placed in free autogenous bone grafts. A histomorphometric study in the rabbit mandible

This study aimed to investigate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy on the tissue reactions to commercially pure (c.p.) titanium implants placed in free autogenous bone graft by a 1-stage procedure. Eighty c.p. titanium implants were placed in the bone grafted from iliac crest to bilateral mandible of 40 Japanese white rabbits without tapping. Twenty rabbits underwent daily a HBO treatment for 60 min under 2.4 ATA during 20 consecutive days and the other untreated 20 rabbits served as controls. The implants with surrounding bone tissue were retrieved 20, 30, 60, 90 and 120 days after surgery, fixated, dehydrated and embedded in resin. About 20 microns thick ground sections were prepared prior to microscopical observations. The bone area and the bone-to-implant contact inside the threads were calculated separately in the grafted bone and in the host bone for each implant. After 30 and up to 120 days, the HBO treated group showed more bone-to-implant contacts in the grafted bone as compared to the non-HBO treated group. In the host bone there were no differences observed between HBO and non-HBO treated groups. This study indicated that HBO treatment was beneficial for the tissue incorporation of c.p. titanium implants when placed immediately in free autogenous bone grafts.

Surgical determinants of clinical success of osseointegrated oral implants: a review of the literature

PURPOSE

This article reviews the current knowledge about the influence of surgical factors on implant failure in routine cases and in those where implants have been used in conjunction with bone augmentation procedures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinical reports published in major scientific journals served as the basis for this review.

RESULTS

With few exceptions, most clinical reports were on screw-shaped titanium implants. High failure rates are associated with poor bone quality and the use of short implants in the athrophic maxilla, irradiation, and bone-grafting procedures of the athrophic maxilla. Evidence for high long-term failure rates of press-fit cylinders was found. Moreover, limited clinical experience, lack of preoperative antibiotics, and smoking may lead to higher failure rates.

CONCLUSION

There is a need for further research to increase the success rates in the severely resorbed maxilla. Because of a lack of proper documentation with respect to the great majority of currently used oral implant designs, the influence of different factors and their long-term results remain unknown.

Histologic analysis of clinically retrieved titanium microimplants placed in conjunction with maxillary sinus floor augmentation

In this study, a new approach involving placement and subsequent retrieval of titanium microimplants was employed for the histologic investigation of the implant-tissue interface in conjunction with maxillary sinus floor augmentation. Nine patients scheduled for sinus floor augmentation and simultaneous placement of Brånemark implants were included in the study. After a sinus graft procedure and placement of implants, an additional microimplant was placed into the graft through the lateral wall of the sinus. At abutment connection, the microimplants were retrieved using a 3- or 5-mm-wide trephine drill. Six specimens were retrieved after 6 to 14 months from sites augmented with particulate radiated mineralized cancellous allograft. Another six implants were retrieved after 6 to 12 months from maxillary sinuses augmented with particulate autogenous bone grafts. The histologic analysis showed distinct differences between the two types of grafts. The sites with autogenous bones grafts displayed a normal morphology of bone and bone marrow, including formation of bone on the surfaces of the grafted particles and remodeling of newly formed as well as grafted bone. The bone was more mature after 11 to 14 months than at 6 months. The allografted sites had a mixed morphologic appearance of newly formed bone and nonviable allograft particles (about 75% of the total bone area) in loose connective tissue. Significantly more bone was found at the autografted than at the allografted implants. The use of autogenous bone for augmentation of the maxillary sinus floor resulted in a greater amount of viable bone surrounding the implant; however, simultaneous placement of implants apparently resulted in a low proportion of bone-implant contact after 6 to 14 months irrespective of graft type.

Stability assessments and histology of titanium implants placed simultaneously with autogenous onlay bone in the rabbit tibia

A disc-shaped bone graft was harvested from the calvarium in ten rabbits and anchored as an onlay bone graft, using a titanium implant, at the proximal tibial metaphysis. The contralateral tibia served as the control, where an implant was placed without a graft with the implant head at a height corresponding to the thickness of the graft on the test side. Resonance frequency measurements were performed 4, 8, 16 and 24 weeks postoperatively and removal torque measurements were performed at 24 weeks. A statistically significant higher implant stability, as assessed by resonance frequency measurements (RFM), was measured from 4 weeks throughout the 24-week period. The mean peak removal torque for the test implants was 50.4+/-10.0 Ncm and 30.0+/-6.9 Ncm for the control implants, which was a statistically significant difference. Histologically, the grafted bone was well incorporated and morphometry revealed more bone around the test implants. Calculations of shear stresses indicated that the grafted bone had similar biomechanical properties to the cortical bone of the recipient site. It is concluded that the integration of titanium implants in autogenous onlay bone grafts results in an increased biomechanical support of the implant. The use of RFM may also serve as a useful instrument for noninvasive monitoring of implant stability in vivo.

Stability measurements of craniofacial implants by means of resonance frequency analysis. A clinical pilot study

Nineteen patients previously treated with 52 implants for anchorage of craniofacial prostheses were subjected to implant stability measurements by means of resonance frequency analysis (RFA), six months to 15 years after implant placement. The resonance frequency (RF) of a transducer attached to the implant abutment was measured by using a frequency response analyser, a personal computer (PC) and dedicated software. Statistically significant higher RF values were seen for implants in the temporal bone as compared to implants in the nose and periorbital regions. There was a positive correlation with time since implant placement for the period from six months up to seven years. It was concluded that the preliminary results suggest that implant stability increases with time and that implants in temporal bone are more stable than implants in the bone in the nose and periorbital regions, probably reflecting differences in bone density.

An XPS and SEM evaluation of six chemical and physical techniques for cleaning of contaminated titanium implants

The purpose of the present study was to analyse clinically failed and retrieved implants prior to and after cleaning by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray induced photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) as compared to unused controls. Six different chemical and physical techniques for cleaning of contaminated titanium implants were evaluated: 1) rinsing in absolute ethanol for 10 min, 2) cleaning in ultrasonic baths containing trichloroethylene (TRI) and absolute ethanol, 10 min in each solution, 3) abrasive cleaning for 30 s, 4) cleaning in supersaturated citric acid for 30 s, 5) cleaning with continuous CO2-laser in dry conditions at 5 W for 10 s, 6) cleaning with continuous CO2-laser in wet conditions (saline) at 5 W for 10 s. SEM of failed implants showed the presence of contaminants of varying sizes and XPS showed almost no titanium but high carbon signals. XPS of unused titanium implants showed lower levels of titanium as previously reported, probably due to contamination of carbon which increased with time in room air. Cleaning of used implants in citric acid followed by rinsing with deionized water for 5 min followed by cleaning in ultrasonic baths with TRI and absolute ethanol gave the best results with regard to macroscopical appearance and surface composition. However, as compared to the unused implants the results from an element composition point of view were still unsatisfactory. It is concluded that further development and testing of techniques for cleaning of organically contaminated titanium is needed.

Application of synchrotron radiation in investigation of metal-ion release from a hip replacement prosthesis

The aim of the present study was to measure very low concentrations of Al, V, Fe, Cr and other metal elements in a matrix of P, S, Cl, Ca and other constituent elements of the human body. These metal elements were released from a failed total hip replacement prosthesis into the surrounding tissues. The experimental results have been compared with those from proton-induced X-ray emission spectroscopy of the same specimen.