Effects of a mineralized human cancellous bone allograft in regeneration of mandibular Class II furcation defects.

Background: A solvent-preserved, mineralized human cancellous bone allograft (MBA) was recently developed. However, its effect in regenerating furcation defects remains to be determined. Hence, the aim of the study is to evaluate the effects of this newly introduced MBA, with and without a bioabsorbable collagen membrane, for the treatment of mandibular class II furcation defects.

Methods: Thirty subjects with Hamp's Class II buccal or lingual furcation defects in lower molars were randomly assigned to open flap debridement (OFD), MBA, or MBA with a bioabsorbable collagen membrane (guided tissue regeneration [GTR]+MBA) groups. Clinical and defect measurements were obtained at the initial visit and at 6-month reentry surgeries. The data were analyzed for intra- and intergroup comparisons and associations of treatment with probability of clinical improvement.

Results: Out of a total of 30 subjects, 27 individuals completed the study. Vertical bone fill (VBF) was -1.6+/-2.1 mm in OFD, 1.9+/-1.4 mm in MBA, and 0.7+/-0.9 mm in GTR+MBA groups. VBF in MBA and GTR + MBA groups was significantly higher than that in the OFD group (P<0.05). Horizontal bone fill (HBF) was 0.2+/-1.7 mm, 1.1+/-0.9 mm, and 1.1+/-0.9 mm for OFD, MBA, and GTR+MBA groups, respectively. However, HBF, recession, clinical attachment level gain, and probing depth reduction at furcations showed no differences among groups.

Conclusions: Results obtained from this study indicate that solvent-preserved, mineralized human cancellous allograft, with or without collagen membrane, can significantly improve bone fill in mandibular Class II furcation defects. In addition, initial vertical defect depth was found to be the only factor that was associated with a higher probability of clinical improvement.