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Background/purpose The aim of this prospective randomized controlled clinical trial was to compare vertical bone gain and bone resorption after sinus graft procedures performed either with particulate or with autogenous bone block. Material and methods Forty-one patients underwent sinus graft procedures with autogenous bone. They were randomly assigned to one group. The first group of 22 patients was treated with autogenous bone block with or without particulated bone, while in the second group of 19 patients sinus floor elevation was performed only with particulated autogenous bone. Linear measurements were recorded before surgery with a computed tomography scan at surgery and at 36 months after sinus lift grafting with a second computed tomography scan. To detect statistical differences Student t test was applied. Differences were considered significant if P values were < 0.05. Results There was a statistically significant difference in bone gain for the group treated with bone block grafts. Conclusion As a general clinical guideline the clinician should prefer, wherever feasible, en-block bone grafts for sinus floor augmentation procedures.

Aim: The aim of this article is to report on the safety and long-term efficacy of Cerament® BoneVoid Filler bone substitute for repairing craniofacial bone defects. Post-traumatic cranioplasty is a complex and challenging procedure for all maxillo-craniofacial surgeons and neurosurgeons, especially when repairing large areas. The standard criterion for repairing small cranial defects is the use autogenous bone from the iliac crest or split calvarial grafts. Autogenous grafts may result in donor-site morbidity, increased surgical time, reabsorption, blood loss, and longer recovery time . Alloplastic materials used for bone repair, such as methyl methacrylate, hydroxyapatite, titanium, or porous polyethylene, are expected to have optimal properties, including easy adaptation, biocompatibility, ingrowth of new tissue, stability of shape, and low rate of reabsorption. A cranial implant should be easily shaped and positioned, allowing easy tissue growth. In very wide cranium defects the new technology is a custom made cranial implant constructed three-dimensionally with different types of materials. However, this procedure is very expensive with various infection rates depending on the kind of material used and on the chemicophysical composition of the implant. Methods: The authors report the case of a 50-year-old man with a severe deformity of the forehead-supra orbital area as a result of a previous complex fronto-facial trauma treated in an emergency Unit. Secondary correction and reconstruction of the residual deformities were performed by using Cerament® Bone Void Filler, an alloplastic biphasic material, composed of 40% hydroxyapatite, 60% calcium sulfate and the radio-contrast agent iohexol. The unique ratio of hydroxyapatite and calcium sulfate is designed to enable Cerament to resorb at the same rate that bone forms. Calcium sulfate acts as a resorbable carrier for hydroxyapatite which is highly osteoconductive, promoting bone ingrowth.It seems to be a promising bone graft substitute in the management of bony irregularities in the fronto-orbital area. Conclusion: The patient was first hospitalized as the result of a serious craniofacial trauma. One year after the first emergency cranio-orbital reconstructive operation, a marked deformity of the frontal region appeared with a “grid effect” due to the inadequate plate-bony fixation of the fractures applied during the first bony recomposition and because it was not as rigid as it should have been . A secondary surgery for deformity correction was performed. The hardware was totally removed and the bony deformity smoothed, reshaped, covered and filled using Cerament® Bone Void Filler, a biomaterial. The patient recovered with a satisfactory cranium-forehead shape, no complications, and complete disappearance of a frowning look of the fronto-orbital region. Recently, increased use of bone substitutes in the reconstruction of bone defects has been fuelled by donor site complications associated with autologous bone harvesting. Cerament® BoneVoid Filler is a biphasic and injectable bone substitute that has a highly compressive strength and the ability to promote cancellous bone healing

Aim: Autologous fat transfer (AFT) for the correction of maxillofacial defects was first reported at the end of the 19th century. AFT was introduced as a way of improving facial esthetics and in the last few years has expanded into applications in craniomaxillofacial reconstructive surgery and regenerative therapy. This protocol is part of translational medicine. The aim of translational medicine, or translational science, is to combine disciplines, resources, expertise, and techniques based on three main pillars: bench, bedside, and community. The primary goals to coalesce assets of various natures to significantly improve the global healthcare system. AFT is thus part of translational medicine in tissue healing, regeneration and augmentation. Methods: Several techniques have been suggested for harvesting and grafting the fat. The Authors follow Coleman’s technique with centrifugation and infiltration using different types and sizes of cannulas. Conclusion: This review provides a fairly comprehensive summary of the many exciting possibilities that exist in the field of facial fat grafting. Five clinical cases are presented and discussed. Translational medicine is the basis of this new reconstructive and regenerative field of science and research.