Correlation between Density and Resorption of Fresh-Frozen and Autogenous Bone Grafts

Abstract EN

Trial Design.

This analysis compared the outcome of fresh-frozen versus autologous bone block grafts for horizontal ridge augmentation in patients with Cawood and Howell class IV atrophies.

Methods.

Seventeen patients received autologous grafts and 21 patients received fresh-frozen bone grafts.

Patients underwent CT scans 1 week and 6 months after surgery for graft volume and density analysis.

Results.

Two autologous and 3 fresh-frozen grafts failed.

Autologous and fresh-frozen grafts lost, respectively, 28% and 46% of their initial volume (P=0.028).

It is noteworthy that less dense fresh-frozen blocks lost more volume than denser grafts (61% versus 16%).

Conclusions.

According to these 6-month results, only denser fresh-frozen bone graft may be an acceptable alternative to autologous bone for horizontal ridge augmentation.

Further studies are needed to investigate its behaviour at longer time points.