title: Effect of maxillary sinus floor augmentation on sinus membrane thickness in computed tomography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about maxillary sinus compliance, i.e., the intrinsic potential of the sinus membrane to resume its homeostatic status after the surgical trauma caused by sinus floor elevation. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of maxillary sinus floor augmentation on sinus membrane thickness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Within-patient comparison of computed tomographic scans before bone grafting versus 4 to 6 months after bone grafting was performed. Changes in membrane thickness were evaluated in 65 maxillary sinus floor augmentation procedures via a lateral approach in 35 patients without clinical signs of sinus pathology at any time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sinus membrane thickness differed significantly before (0.8 ± 1.2 mm) versus after (1.5 ± 1.3 mm) augmentation surgery (P <0.001), with a mean increase of 0.8 ± 1.6 mm (maximum: 4.4 mm). Only 28% of augmented sinuses did not show membrane thickening. In non-augmented control sinuses, there was no evidence of membrane thickness increase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that the maxillary sinus membrane, even in healthy clinical conditions, undergoes morphologic modifications after sinus floor elevation, yet membrane reactions demonstrate significant variability. Future research on the effect of augmentation surgery on maxillary sinus physiology is recommended.
authors: Department of Oral Surgery, Vienna Medical University, Vienna, Austria.
authors: Bernhard
authors: B
authors: Pommer
authors: Gabriella
authors: G
authors: Dvorak
authors: Philip
authors: P
authors: Jesch
authors: Richard M
authors: RM
authors: Palmer
authors: Georg
authors: G
authors: Watzek
authors: André
authors: A
authors: Gahleitner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D003187:Compliance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D059546:Sinus Floor Augmentation; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed