Hard and soft tissue augmentation of vertical ridge defects with the “hard top double membrane technique”: introduction of a new technique and a case report

<abstract> <p>Vertical ridge defects (VRD) of the jaws often require both bone and keratinized mucosa (KM) reconstruction. A new staged procedure is proposed to restore both hard and soft tissues in the VRD through a case report. A patient required the lower right second premolar and first molar rehabilitation. The first surgery aimed to restore the bone architecture through the use of a titanium reinforced dense-PTFE (TR-dPTFE) membrane, positioned and stabilized on top of tenting screws. This membrane didn't cover the whole defect, it just created an hard top that avoided the collapse of a collagen membrane that was placed over it. This resorbable membrane was stabilized with tacks and covered the whole defect, protecting a mixture of autogenous bone and porcine xenograft both lingually and buccally. The second surgery was performed after a 5 month healing time either to remove the tenting screws and the TR-dPTFE membrane, and to augment KM with a gingival graft harvested from the palate. Both regenerated hard and soft tissues were left to mature for 7 months before the third surgery. In this last stage implants insertion and healing abutments application were carried out in a straightforward way, since bone and KM had been previously restored. Two bone samples, harvested for histologic evaluation, stated a great amount of new bone formation. This new approach allowed inserting implants in matured and stable regenerated bone and augmented KM, avoiding the hard and soft tissue loss around implant neck that can affect the VRD treatments during healing.</p> </abstract>

Clinical and Functional Outcomes by Graft Type in Superior Capsular Reconstruction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background: In recent years, superior capsular reconstruction (SCR) has emerged as a promising treatment for massive rotator cuff tears and has been performed with an array of graft options, most commonly dermal allograft and tensor fascia lata (TFL) autograft. Purpose: To compare the clinical outcomes, functional outcomes, and complication rates after SCR performed with dermal allograft, TFL autograft, long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT) autograft, and porcine xenograft. Study Design: Meta-analysis; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase were systematically reviewed for studies that enrolled ≥10 patients who underwent SCR and presented clinical outcome data at a minimum follow-up of 12 months. When available, pre- and postoperative patient-reported outcome scores and clinical examination data were extracted. Outcome data were then compared by graft type. A meta-analysis was also conducted of graft tear and reoperation rates after SCR with dermal allograft and TFL autograft. Results: Human dermal allograft and TFL autograft were each utilized in 7 studies, LHBT autograft in 2 studies, and porcine xenograft in 1 study. Dermal allograft, TFL autograft, and LHBT autograft demonstrated comparable median (range) postoperative American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores of 85.3 (77.5-89), 88.6 (73.7-94.3), and 82.7 (80-85.4), respectively. The median postoperative pain scores per visual analog scale for dermal allograft, TFL autograft, and LHBT autograft were 0.8, 2.5, and 1.4. Median postoperative forward elevation was 159.0°, 147.0°, 163.8°, and 151.4° for dermal allograft, TFL autograft, LHBT autograft, and porcine xenograft. Meta-analysis demonstrated a comparable pooled graft tear rate between TFL autograft (9%; 95% CI, 4%-16%) and dermal allograft (7%; 95% CI, 2%-13%). Similarly, the pooled reoperation rate was similar for TFL autograft (3%; 95% CI, 0%-7%) and dermal allograft (6%; 95% CI, 2%-12%). Among the 3 studies with pre- and postoperative information on pseudoparalysis, 73 of 76 (96%) patients with an intact/repairable subscapularis had a reversal of their pseudoparalysis after SCR. Conclusion: Dermal allograft, TFL autograft, and LHBT autograft are all suitable options for SCR and demonstrate significant improvements in American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, pain score per visual analog scale, and forward elevation. Moreover, dermal allograft and TFL autograft have comparable rates of graft tear and reoperation.

Bone remodeling around implants placed after socket preservation: a 10-year retrospective radiological study

Background To evaluate and compare the long-term clinical and radiological outcomes of post-extraction sockets after ridge preservation either with porcine xenograft or collagen alone. Patients underwent single-tooth extraction in the posterior mandible. Fresh extraction sockets were filled with pre-hydrated cortico-cancellous porcine bone or collagen sponge. Two or 3 months later, a ridge expansion technique with immediate implant positioning placement was performed. Primary (alveolar width changes) and secondary outcomes (adverse events and long-term maintenance of buccal plate covering the implant) were evaluated. Results Thirty-four women and 20 men were selected: 30 implants (group A) placed into healed post-extraction sockets grafted with porcine bone and 24 (group B) into sockets filled with a collagen sponge. There was a significant loss in width in both groups from the first and second surgery (ranging between 2.7 mm and 4.5 mm). The ridge splitting with bone expansion resulted in significant long-term increases in width for both procedures and implant sites. Non-significant differences in alveolar width were registered between the groups at 10-year follow-up even if the analysis of the implant buccal bone coverage suggested that group A had significantly worst results. Conclusions Porcine bone group had significantly better short-term outcomes with lower long-term maintenance of the buccal plate.

Advantages of Porcine Xenograft over Autograft in Sinus Lift: A Randomised Clinical Trial

This study aimed to compare the performance of intra-oral autologous bone grafts versus porcine xenografts in a two-step lateral window sinus lift. This split-mouth randomised controlled trial sequentially enrolled 12 patients with a 6-month follow-up. For each patient, a simultaneous randomised bilateral maxillary sinus lift was performed and filled with autologous bone from the mandible (control) or a porcine xenograft (test). A bone biopsy sample was collected during the implant placement for histological and histomorphometric analysis. CT scans were performed at the beginning and at the end of the trial to assess radiological evolution. A comparison of initial and six-month CT scans indicated statistically significant increases in bone level for both materials (7.8 ± 2.4 mm for autologous and 8.7 ± 2.2 mm for xenograft, p < 0.05), and there were no significant differences between the performance of the two materials over time (p = 0.26). The histological analysis showed various stages of the remodelling process and no cells or other signs of inflammation or infection were visible in both groups. The porcine xenografts presented similar results for the studied variables when compared to autologous bone, being a reasonable alternative for a sinus lift.

Porcine Xenograft and Epidermal Fully Synthetic Skin Substitutes in the Treatment of Partial-Thickness Burns: A Literature Review

Background and Objectives: Porcine xenografts have been used successfully in partial thickness burn treatment for many years. Their disappearance from the market led to the search for effective and efficient alternatives. In this article, we examine the synthetic epidermal skin substitute Suprathel® as a substitute in the treatment of partial thickness burns. Materials and Methods: A systematic review following the PRISMA guidelines has been performed. Sixteen Suprathel® and 12 porcine xenograft studies could be included. Advantages and disadvantages between the treatments and the studies’ primary endpoints have been investigated qualitatively and quantitatively. Results: Although Suprathel had a nearly six times larger TBSA in their studies (p < 0.001), it showed a significantly lower necessity for skin grafts (p < 0.001), and we found a significantly lower infection rate (p < 0.001) than in Porcine Xenografts. Nonetheless, no significant differences in the healing time (p = 0.67) and the number of dressing changes until complete wound healing (p = 0.139) could be found. Both products reduced pain to various degrees with the impression of a better performance of Suprathel® on a qualitative level. Porcine xenograft was not recommended for donor sites or coverage of sheet-transplanted keratinocytes, while Suprathel® was used successfully in both indications. Conclusion: The investigated parameters indicate that Suprathel® to be an effective replacement for porcine xenografts with even lower subsequent treatment rates. Suprathel® appears to be usable in an extended range of indications compared to porcine xenograft. Data heterogeneity limited conclusions from the results.