The Application of Beta-Tricalcium Phosphate in Implant Dentistry: A Systematic Evaluation of Clinical Studies

The demand for synthetic graft materials in implant dentistry is rising. This systematic review aims to evaluate the survival rate of dental implants placed simultaneously with bone regeneration procedures using the material β-tricalcium phosphate, one of the most promising synthetic graft materials. The electronic search was conducted in PubMed, Scielo, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. There were five randomized clinical trials, one of which was a non-randomized controlled clinical trial and four of which were observational studies without a control group included. Implant survival rate and other clinical, radiographic, and histological parameters did not differ from those of implants placed simultaneously with another type of graft material, or placed in blood clots or natural alveolar ridges. Based on the available literature, β-tricalcium phosphate seems to be a promising graft material in implant dentistry. Nevertheless, more randomized clinical trials, with long follow-up periods, preoperative and postoperative CBCT, and histological analysis, are necessary to assess its long-term behavior.

Efficacy of autologous platelet-rich plasma on graft uptake in myringoplasty: a single-blinded randomized control trial

Background and aim Chronic otitis media is defined as a chronic inflammation of the middle ear cleft producing irreversible pathological changes. The myringoplasty aims at the reconstruction of the tympanic membrane using a graft material. Autologous platelet-rich plasma can be used along with the graft to have a successful outcome. The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of autologous platelet-rich plasma on graft uptake in myringoplasty. Methods This was a randomized controlled trial with a sample size of 76 patients. All patients were above 18 and below 55 years of age diagnosed with chronic suppurative otitis media and were planned for myringoplasty. The participants were randomly allotted to two groups by block randomization (block of 4). Intra-operatively, group I (n=38) received platelet-rich plasma–soaked gel foam and group II (n=38) was taken as the control group who received saline-soaked gel foam and examined by a blinded examiner at the end of 1st and 3rd months. Results The mean air-bone gap reduction post-operatively in the platelet-rich plasma group was 8.68 ± 4.8 (P value 0.034) and 6.05 ± 4.05 in the control group. The improvement in pure-tone average in the platelet-rich plasma group (P = 0.009) is more than that in the control group. The graft uptake was higher among the platelet-rich plasma group than the control group both at 1st and 3rd months (P value 0.049) which were statistically significant. Conclusion The present study concludes that the usage of platelet-rich plasma in the conventional myringoplasty technique has improved the success rate of graft uptake and reduced the graft migration. Trial registration Clinical Trials Registry-India (ICMR-NIMS) CTRI/2020/04/024416. Date of registration: 01/04/2020. Date of enrolment of the first participant to the trial: 06/04/2020. URL of the trial registry: http://www.ctri.nic.in. Highlights Usage of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in conventional myringoplasty in underlay technique. Assessment of graft uptake, percentage of perforation closure, and the audiological outcome. Significant mean reduction of ABG in the PRP group. Significant improvement in PTA average in the PRP group. Graft uptake and percentage of perforation closure were higher in the PRP group and the control group. PRP is also beneficial in revision cases.

Factors Associated With Noninfectious Fever After Endovascular Aortic Aneurysm Repair

Purpose: The post–endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) inflammatory response, which is very often associated with fever, has been ascribed to a wide range of proinflammatory mediators and operative events. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of such factors in the development of fever of noninfectious origin after elective EVAR. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of patients treated with standard elective EVAR between February 2017 and December 2020 was undertaken. The database included patients’ demographics and comorbidities, as well as laboratory inflammatory markers (white blood cell count, neutrophils, and C-reactive protein [CRP]) and anatomical characteristics (sac diameter, inferior mesenteric artery [IMA] patency and diameter, number of patent lumbar arteries, internal iliac artery [IIA] patency or occlusion). Intraoperative details, such as type of stent graft material and IIA overstenting, were also analyzed. Patients with infectious postoperative complications or previously receiving systemic anti-inflammatory medication were excluded. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 22.0 for Windows software (IBM Corp, Armonk, New York). Results: From 332 patients treated with elective EVAR between 2017 and 2020, 268 patients (all men) were included in the analysis. The mean age was 72.1±7.5 years and the mean aneurysm diameter was 59.1±12.1 mm. Seventeen patients were excluded due to a known infection site. From the study cohort, 114 (42.5%) patients presented with fever. Multivariate regression analysis confirmed that the occlusion of IMA ≥5 mm (p<0.008) and higher CRP (p<0.001) were independent factors associated with postoperative fever. A subanalysis was performed only on patients with patent IMA before EVAR. In the multivariate regression analysis of this subgroup, IMA ≥5 mm (p=0.008), presence of dyslipidemia (p=0.037), and higher CRP (p<0.001) were related to fever. Conclusion: Occlusion of an existing wide (≥5 mm) and patent IMA prior to EVAR may contribute to the development of post-EVAR pyrexia. The CRP is a reliable marker for post-EVAR fever. Further prospective studies are needed to corroborate these findings.

Enhanced BMP-2-Mediated Bone Repair Using an Anisotropic Silk Fibroin Scaffold Coated with Bone-like Apatite

The repair of large bone defects remains challenging and often requires graft material due to limited availability of autologous bone. In clinical settings, collagen sponges loaded with excessive amounts of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2) are occasionally used for the treatment of bone non-unions, increasing the risk of adverse events. Therefore, strategies to reduce rhBMP-2 dosage are desirable. Silk scaffolds show great promise due to their favorable biocompatibility and their utility for various biofabrication methods. For this study, we generated silk scaffolds with axially aligned pores, which were subsequently treated with 10× simulated body fluid (SBF) to generate an apatitic calcium phosphate coating. Using a rat femoral critical sized defect model (CSD) we evaluated if the resulting scaffold allows the reduction of BMP-2 dosage to promote efficient bone repair by providing appropriate guidance cues. Highly porous, anisotropic silk scaffolds were produced, demonstrating good cytocompatibility in vitro and treatment with 10× SBF resulted in efficient surface coating. In vivo, the coated silk scaffolds loaded with a low dose of rhBMP-2 demonstrated significantly improved bone regeneration when compared to the unmineralized scaffold. Overall, our findings show that this simple and cost-efficient technique yields scaffolds that enhance rhBMP-2 mediated bone healing.

Fat graft myringoplasty: A clinical study and review of literature

Objectives: There are numerous surgical techniques that have been demonstrated and utilized to repair small perforations in the tympanic membrane (TM) with various graft materials such as veins, perichondrium, periosteum, and others. In our study, fat was taken as the graft material and the main aim of the study was to evaluate the success rate of graft uptake, assessment of hearing improvement, and complications of the operative procedure. Material and Methods: In this single-center study, 46 patients underwent fat myringoplasty, 52 ears were operated from October 2016 to September 2017 for a period of 1 year. A detailed history, general physical, and a through ear, nose, and throat examination were done. Audiometric assessment was done using pure tone audiometry. Patients between the age group of 15 and 50 years were included in the study. Results: A total of 46 patients were included in the study who met the inclusion criteria. Six patients had bilateral perforations and 40 patients had unilateral perforation, a total of 52 perforations were operated. Forty-three (82.69%) patients had successful graft uptake and graft failure was seen in 9 (17.30%) patients. Maximum gain in hearing was seen in in patients with hearing loss between 20 and 30 dB, that is, 24 patients (46.1%). Conclusion: Fat myringoplasty is a methodized, precise, inexpensive, mini-invasive, and cosmetic outpatient procedure for small perforations of TM. It can be done under local anesthesia and has a good success rate if the patient selection is done appropriately.

White-Eyed Orbital Blowout Fracture: A Retrospective Study of 22 Patients

Background and Objectives The study reports on the clinical experience of repairing white-eyed orbital blow out fracture through a retrospective study of various incidences of white-eyed orbital blow out fracture that resulted in different treatment methods and outcomes.Subjects and Method A retrospective study was performed on 22 patients with white-eyed blowout fracture who underwent operation between March 2009 and June 2019 at our clinic. Patients were divided into 2 groups by age: 6 to 12 and 13 to 18. A review of medical records included demographic data, cause of injury, preoperative symptoms, trauma to operation time and surgical outcomes including improvement of postoperative ocular symptoms and complications.Results The study population included 20 males and 2 female patients ranging from 6 to 18 years (mean, 14.2 years) of age. Fifteen of 21 patients with diplopia or limitation of eyeball movement showed a complete improvement of symptoms after surgery and 6 (28.5%) had remaining symptoms. One patient had no ocular symptom, but had oculocardiac reflex including nausea and vomiting. Two cases were re-operated due to adhesion of graft material. There was one sinus infection related to the implant.Conclusion This study shows that early reconstruction and release of incarcerated muscle within 5 days after trauma for white-eyed blowout fracture gives successful result that does not accompany major complications. All of the 22 patients who were operated for white-eyed blowout fractures had successful results.

Fluid Dynamic Transcrestal Sinus Floor Elevation Using a New Surgical Instrument, Flusilift and Hyaluronic Acid as Only Biomaterial: A Case Report

Despite validated surgical techniques and the development of biomaterials, the procedures aimed at increasing the maxillary bone volume by sinus floor elevation have complications with various degrees of relevance. The perforation of the Schneiderian membrane is one of the most frequent events while performing the detachment of the membrane and it can increase the risk of iatrogenic sinusitis, impairment of functional homeostasis, dispersion of the graft material in the antral cavity as well as its bacterial colonization with a subsequential failure of the procedure. This report presents a case where transcrestal sinus lift was performed using Flusilift (Sweden & Martina, Due Carrare PD), a new instrument that allows fluid dynamic elevation of the sinus floor using saline solution to detach the Schneider’s membrane in an atraumatic way without using a sinus elevator and obtain an adequate alveolar ridge regeneration using hyaluronic acid in gel formulation to support an implant placement. Hyaluronic acid seems to play a key role in wound healing and contributes to a faster bone neoformation in bone regeneration procedures.

AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ALVEOLAR CLEFTS WITH BONE GRAFT HARVEST FROM MAXILLARY TUBEROSITY AND MANDIBULAR WISDOM MOLAR ODONTECTOMY SITES- A CASE REPORT

Alveolar bone grafting is a complex procedure utilized in alveolar cleft repair, however, the ideal site of bone graft material remains highly debated. In this paper, we describe the management of a 14 year old female with bilateral alveolar clefts using alternative intra-oral donor sites for bone graft harvest.

Clinical and Radio Graphical Evaluation of Implants Placed in Ridge Preserved Sites versus Naturally Healed Sites

Introduction: Dental implant has proved to be a pioneer in prosthetic rehabilitation overcoming the disadvantage of a removable or a fixed partial denture. The aim of the study was to clinically and radiographically evaluate and compare changes of hard and soft tissues around the implants which will be placed in ridge preserved sites with implant placed in naturally healed extraction sites. Materials and Methods: In this study 10 Patients having tooth with hopeless prognosis requiring tooth extraction followed by implant placement were enrolled. These patients were randomly divided in to two groups. Group I: Socket preservation with demineralized bone matrix putty group. Group II: Naturally healed socket after extraction, followed by implant placement in both groups. Results: The results of the current study indicated that demineralisedbone matrix putty, when used in patients for dental augmentation in either mandibular or maxillary sites, resulted in replacement of the graft material with bone by as early as 4-6 months, there upon enabling implant placement and subsequent prosthetic reconstruction. Conclusion: Bucco lingual ridge width and width of keratinized gingiva can be preserved by ridge preservation after extraction. Short-term survival rates and clinical outcomes of both groups were similar and were comparable. Further clinical trials with longer duration follow up with larger sample size should be done to get more affirmative and conclusive results.