AUGMENTATION OF SKULL BONE USING A BIORESORBABLE BARRIER SUPPORTED BYAUTOLOGOUS BONE-GRAFTS - AN INTRAINDIVIDUAL STUDY IN THE RABBIT

The aim of this experimental investigation was to compare the effect o f using autologous particulate bone grafts with and without a bioresor bable barrier covering for augmentation of the rabbit skull bone. For this purpose, bilateral, circular, 8 mm wide and 1 mm deep skull bone defects were prepared and overfilled with particulate bone grafts. The grafts placed in the test sites were covered with a bioresorbable bar rier (Guidor(R) Matrix Barrier). The grafts placed in the control site s were covered only by the repositioned, cutaneous flap. 12 weeks late r, the animals were sacrificed, the experimental sites were defleshed and the height and volume of the augmented bone in the test and contro l sites were measured clinically. Histologically, morphometrical measu rements of the bone tissue were performed in decalcified vertical cros s-sections of the experimental sites. Statistically significant differ ences were found in favour of the coverage of the bone graft particles with the barrier, both with respect to the height and the volume of t he augmented bone.