Combining Scaffolds and Osteogenic Cells in Regenerative Bone Surgery: A Preliminary Histological Report in Human Maxillary Sinus Augmentation

PURPOSE: The following case series evaluated the maxillary sinus augmentation responses to tissue-engineered bone graft obtained by a culture of autogenous osteoblasts seeded on polyglycolic-polylactic scaffolds and calcium phosphate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sinus floor augmentation was performed bilaterally in five patients (mean age 58.4 years) with tissue-engineered bone (test site - Oral Bone, BioTissue, Freiburg, Germany) or calcium phosphate (control site - Biocoral, Novaxa Spa, Milan, Italy). Biopsies were harvested 6 months after sinus augmentation for histometric evaluation. Volumetric measurements were taken at baseline and 6 months after the surgical procedure. RESULTS: The mean of vertical bone gain was 6.47 +/- 1.39 mm and 9.14 +/- 1.19 mm to test and control sites, respectively. The histological sections depicted mature bone with compact and cancellous areas. All biopsies contained varying percentages of newly formed bone and marrow spaces. The mean of bone tissue in the grafted area was 37.32 +/- 19.59% and 54.65 +/- 21.17% for tissue-engineered bone and calcium phosphate, respectively. CONCLUSION: Within the limits of the present report, the histological data in humans confirmed that tissue-engineered bone and calcium phosphate allowed newly formed bone after maxillary sinus augmentation.