Khoury Technique Versus Titanium Reinforced PTFE Membrane in 3D Alveolar Bone Augmentation

This study targeted bone augmentation in atrophic posterior mandible. Two groups were assigned. The first group included titanium-reinforced polytetrafluoroethylene (Ti PTFE) membrane as a rigid modality to achieve guided-bone regeneration (GBR): A mixture of autogenous bone (scrapped from the mandibular external oblique ridge) and bovine xenograft was administered on the atrophic recipient area after decortication by low-speed reducing drills, and covered with the mentioned membrane. The second group utilized rigid bone-plates (a bone block was harvested from the mandibular external oblique ridge, then splitted into two plates; one fixated buccally and the other fixated occlusally by bone screws), and the same bone mixture was prepared and introduced as in the first group. All procedures were operated under local anesthesia in a minor oral surgical setting. Follow-up time intervals were the first postoperative day, and the sixth postoperative month. Two outcome variables were assessed; gained bone volume and gained bone height.