Human cadaver study evaluating a new measurement technique for graft volumes after sinus floor elevation.
OBJECTIVE
Volumetric data can be used as complementary information to characterize grafting materials. The aim of this cadaveric study was to analyze a noncommercial measurement technique based on the novel concept of an "interactive rigid registration algorithm" (IRRA). Parameters analyzed included the reproducibility of IRRA measurements and their reliability in comparison with the established measurement technique of "region growing segmentation thresholding" (RGST).


METHODS
Three human skulls were used to simulate a total of 18 sinus grafts, using three incremental grafting procedures in each sinus (three skulls ×t wo sinuses × three grafting increments). Radiopaque impression material was used for the simulated grafts, whose volumes were recorded by computed tomography from three different tilt angles. The reproducibility of IRRA measurements and the reliability of volumetric results obtained with both the IRRA and RGST techniques were evaluated by appropriate intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman analysis.


RESULTS
ICC greater than 0.9 indicated close to perfect agreement of the results obtained with both methods and good reproducibility of the IRRA measurements. Bland-Altman analysis demonstrated good inter-method and intramethod agreement.


CONCLUSIONS
The IRRA measurement technique can be recommended as a noninvasive tool to evaluate graft volumes in human maxillary sinuses.
Research associate, Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria; research associate, Department of Oral Surgery and Radiology, School of Dentistry, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria; professor, School of Dentistry, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria; professor and chairman, Department of Oral Surgery and Radiology, School of Dentistry, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria; research associate, Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Documentation, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria; first vice chair of institute, Institute of Anatomy, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria; professor and chairman, Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria; professor, Department of Oral Surgery and Radiology, School of Dentistry, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria.
Susanne
S
Platzer
Angelika
A
Wildburger
Martin
M
Lorenzoni
Norbert
N
Jakse
Regina
R
Riedl
Andreas
A
Weiglein
Walther
W
Wegscheider
Robert
R
Kirmeier
D000465:Algorithms; D002102:Cadaver; D006801:Humans; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D059546:Sinus Floor Augmentation