Measurements of stability changes of titanium implants with exposed threads subjected to barrier membrane induced bone augmentation. An experimental study in the rabbit tibia.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate in a rabbit model the changes in stability of implants that had been subjected to barrier membrane induced bone augmentation, as compared to untreated controls. One titanium implant was inserted in each proximal tibial metaphysis of 10 rabbits. The implants were placed in such a way that 4–5 threads on one side of the implant were left uncovered by bone. On the test side, the exposed implant surface was treated by means of a barrier membrane technique to provide for bone augmentation, while the contralateral side was untreated. The stability evaluations were made by means of resonance frequency measurements (RIM) at Day 0 and after 8, 16 and 24 weeks of healing. In addition, changes in the area of exposed implant threads were documented and measured on photographs. Removal torque measurements were performed at the day of sacrifice. In this study it was not possible to demonstrate a statistically significant better stability of implants subjected to barrier induced bone augmentation as compared to control implants still having exposed threads as evaluated by RIM and removal torque measurements.