Simultaneous or delayed placement of titanium implants in free autogenous iliac bone grafts. Histological analysis of the bone graft-titanium interface in 10 consecutive patients.

The aim of the present study was to histologically analyse the bone graft-titanium implant interface after six and twelve months of healing for a simultaneous approach and after six months for a delayed approach. For this purpose, screw-shaped c.p. titanium microimplants, 2 mm in diameter and 5 mm long, were placed and retrieved at different time intervals in ten consecutive patients with severely resorbed maxillae and treated with iliac cortico-cancellous bone grafts and titanium implants in a two-stage procedure. The histomorphometrical analyses of ground sections of the specimens showed a higher degree of bone-implant contact and more bone filling the implant threads in the delayed approach microimplants. This was probably due to the partly revascularized grafted bone in the delayed approach being able to respond to the surgical trauma, resulting in interfacial bone formation. It is concluded that the results from the present study favour the use of a delayed approach when using free autogenous bone grafts and titanium implants for reconstruction of the severely atrophied maxilla.