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.