Transforming Channel Osteotomy Into Tunnel Osteotomy in Zygomatic Implant Preparation

The term "tunnel osteotomy" is used because the alveolar osseous entry point has a floor, lateral walls, and a more or less complete roof. When a tunnel osteotomy was chosen, the sinus membrane was perforated at the time of completion of the antrostomy. The objective was to achieve osseointegration at the neck level also to seal the sinus entrance in the long-term using: (1) a stable zygomatic implant with (2) a suitable threaded neck section (3) bordered by enough bone at the coronal entry, (4) stabilized by adequate apical zygomatic anchorage; and (5) connected to a rigid prosthesis that provides adequate masticatory load distribution. The "tunnel osteotomy" was also employed in ZAGA Type 3 cases when the alveolar bone adopts a triangular, buccally inclined, profile and the maxillary anterior wall was concave(23).

When inadequate residual bone architecture at the crestal level (less than 4 mm of thickness) was measured, the coronal osteotomy was buccally shifted to prevent future sinus or nasal-oral communication/fistula. Implant beds were designed to be carved as much as possible into both the buccal alveolar and maxillary wall bone with the limits of sinus lining integrity. This osteotomy type is known as a "channel osteotomy" and is noted when lateral walls and floor are present but with no roof(23).

On analyzing the evolution of the abovementioned technique (ZAGA), it is seen that the position of the neck of the zygomatic implants has been mobilized laterally from an intrasinus position to an extrasinus position. Different anterior techniques have thus sought to avoid maxillary sinus complications(19,24,25). However, hard and soft tissue infective and aesthetic complications (exposure of the implant threads) were detected(26-28).

Peri-implant hard and soft tissues are crucial for avoiding complications around conventional implants. Two aspects have been studied in this regard: buccal cortical bone and the thickness and width of the peri-implant keratinized mucosa. On the one hand, a recent systematic review has reported that a buccal cortical thickness of close to 2 mm was associated with less vertical bone resorption and less mucosal recession(29).

On the other hand, the presence of sufficient keratinized mucosa thickness exerts a protective effect against marginal bone loss(30,31). These abovementioned concepts to minimum necessary peri-implant tissues could be extrapolated to zygomatic implants. A number of techniques for bone and soft tissue enhancement around zygomatic implants have been described, with high success rates.

Regarding bone regeneration, a sinus lift during the zygomatic implant placement has been proposed (32). Regarding soft tissue enhancement, dissection of the buccal fat pad and the ZAGA "Scarf Graft" (pediculate connective tissue grafting [26]) have been utilized to prevent buccal mucosal recession(33). Chow et al. described a simultaneous sinus lift for reducing oroantral communications and subsequent maxillary sinus infections in zygomatic implants(34).

Hinze et al. with Chow's technique described an increase in peri-implant bone around the coronal part of the implant (buccal bone 1.4 ± 0.5 mm and palatal bone 4.3 ± 0.4 mm) at 6 months which same results of Peñarrocha et al study showed similar bone gained width(34,35).

Peri-implant bone defects or thin buccal/palatal corticals were regenerated with a mixture of particulate synthetic bone graft (beta-phosphate tricalcium (KeraOs ®, Keramat, Spain)) with autogenous bone and resorbable collagen membranes (Creos Xenoprotect ®, Nobel Biocare, Sweden) fixed with surgical pins (Meisinger ®, Sanhigia, Spain). Management of the soft tissue without flap pressure was achieved through two-plane suturing (horizontal double and simple stitches). Bone regeneration was performed palatal, buccal or palatal and buccal(35).

Palatal rotated connective tissue flaps or free connective tissue grafts were performed to improve buccal soft tissues around the zygomatic implants. Palatal rotated flaps were fixed buccally to the zygomatic implants using resorbable sutures through small perforations created in the bone alveolar crest mesial and distal of the zygomatic implant. Free connective tissue grafts were collected from the palatal flap and fixed buccally around the coronal part of the zygomatic implants by two surgical pins(35).

The evolution of zygomatic implant techniques, from the original procedures to the Zygomatic Anatomy-Guided Approach (ZAGA), has significantly improved outcomes for patients with severe maxillary atrophy. Despite these advancements, challenges such as peri-implant tissue recession, sinus complications, and aesthetic concerns persist. Bone augmentation and soft tissue enhancement techniques, including sinus lifts, connective tissue grafts, and buccal fat pad utilization, have been employed to address these issues with varying degrees of success. However, the need for predictable and stable bone regeneration and soft tissue contouring remains critical for long-term implant success.

The following study aims to assess bone gain, soft tissue contour, and stability after using bone lamina shell, providing a potential solution to enhance peri-implant tissue integrity and optimize functional and aesthetic outcomes in zygomatic implant rehabilitation.

PICOTS Population: people with atrophic maxilla. Intervention: Zygomatic implants placed in Channel shape osteotomy with using xenogenic malleable bone shell to convert osteotomy type to tunnel osteotomy.

Competitor: Zygomatic implants placed in Channel shape osteotomy with only soft tissue augmentation by using buccal bad of fat.

Outcomes:

Outcome name How to be measured Primary

Secondary • Soft tissue

• Bone gain • Measuring soft tissue thickness
• Measuring soft tissue recession.
• Measuring bone width from postoperative cone beam CT.

Time: the patient will be asked to make postoperative CT after 6 months of the surgery.

Study Design: A prospective Randomized clinical trial (two arms).

Research question:

Does the use of a xenogenic malleable bone shell in zygomatic implant rehabilitation improve bone gain, soft tissue contour and stability, thereby enhancing peri-implant tissue integrity and optimizing functional and aesthetic outcomes?"