title: Lamb ex vivo model for training in maxillary sinus floor elevation surgery: a comparative study with human standards.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many models have been suggested for surgical training in sinus floor elevation (SFE), but information on key features that provide feedback to the trainee is scarce. The aim of this study is to compare the thickness of the lateral wall of the maxillary sinus (TLWMS) and the thickness of the Schneiderian membrane (TSM) between an animal model and the human standard.
  
  
  METHODS
  The observational study used 20 fresh lamb heads. Cone-beam computed tomography (CT) was performed for recording the following: TLWMS, sinus lateral floor width, distance from the lateral border of the anteroposterior bone crest to the sinus wall, and height of lateral maxillary sinus. Thirty human radiologic exploration cone-beam CTs were used for comparisons. The sinus membrane thickness was measured at three points per section and compared to those of 10 formalin-preserved human membranes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TLWMS in the animal model scored 2.25 ± 0.3 mm and was thicker than that of humans with subsinusal edentulism (Xi - Xj = 0.3; 95% confidence interval = 0.1 to 0.4), although this difference was not considered clinically relevant. The average thickness of the sinus membrane was 485.5 ± 137.1 μm with no significant differences between sides (P = 0.12) or between the thickness of human and lamb Schneiderian membranes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The model based on lambs is potentially useful for training in SFE techniques because of the similarities in the TLWMS and particularly the TSM. Additional studies are needed to validate this model within a teaching environment.
authors: Stomatology Department, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors: Javier
authors: J
authors: López-Niño
authors: Lucía
authors: L
authors: García-Caballero
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: González-Mosquera
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Seoane-Romero
authors: Pablo
authors: P
authors: Varela-Centelles
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Seoane
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002508:Cephalometry; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005260:Female; D020397:Goblet Cells / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008875:Middle Aged; D023421:Models, Animal; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000098:blood supply; D012756:Sheep / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D059546:Sinus Floor Augmentation / Q000379:methods*; D013515:Surgery, Oral / Q000193:education*; D013664:Teaching Materials