title: Analysis of the periimplant tissue of craniofacial implants by sulcus fluid flow rate (SFFR).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The tissue surrounding craniofacial implants is prone to inflammation; however, no adequate instrument is currently available to measure this objectively.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to describe the parameters influencing the sulcus fluid flow rate in the extraoral periimplant tissue environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four patients with 112 craniofacial implants participated. The sulcus fluid flow rate (SFFR) was measured with standardized paper strips. The influence of cleansing liquids, implant location, presence of purulent exudates, smoking habits, depth of crevice, and previous irradiation on the sulcus fluid flow rate were evaluated with covariate adjusted finite mixture models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two latent subgroups of SFFR were identified based on a mixed model. The majority (95.5%) had a mean value of 1.44 mm, and the smaller subgroup (4.5%) had a mean value of 10.4 mm. The SFFR values were increased when purulent exudates were present (regression coefficient 1.41), 95% CI (0.67, 2.16). The depth of the crevice influenced the SFFR per unit depth (regression coefficient 0.37), 95% CI (0.22, 0.53). Additional covariates, such as the implant location, history of smoking, and prior irradiation, had no statistical effect on SFFR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SFFR can be measured objectively in the extraoral periimplant tissue.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Clinic Jena, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Germany. choch@med.uni-jena.de
authors.forename: Chie Hee
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Ramona
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scheufele
authors.forename: Jonathan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Goeke
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Müller-Kauter
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schlattmann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001863:Bone Screws; D004423:Ear; D005122:Exudates and Transudates / Q000502:physiology*; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D059346:Magnets; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009666:Nose; D020273:Orbital Implants; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D060489:Prosthesis Retention / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012636:Secretory Rate; D055815:Young Adult