OSTEOPROMOTION - A SOFT-TISSUE EXCLUSION-PRINCIPLE USING A MEMBRANE FOR BONE HEALING AND BONE NEOGENESIS

THE RESEARCH REVIEWED IN THIS PAPER constitutes a series of investigations intended to develop and evaluate a new membrane technique, which provides improved conditions for osteogenesis during healing of bone defects and restitution of earlier existing bone. The technique has also been shown to aid in bone grafting as well as having the capacity to create new bone for reconstructive purposes. According to this methodology, membranes are utilized to create a space in the tissue in which osteogenesis can occur relatively unimpeded. The paper provides a review of our initial animal experimental work as well as some clinical studies with special emphasis on membrane use in conjunction with dental implants. Possible mechanisms behind the efficacy of the membrane technique are reviewed, and future perspectives of development are also discussed. The osteopromotive membrane technique represents a principally new and major advance in bone biology and reconstructive skeletal surgery. Based on the results obtained by us and by others, the technique is presently utilized clinically in some routine applications.