Influence of a resorbable collagen membrane for alveolar bone graft on clinical outcomes and ridge volume stability in cleft alveolus

This study compared the clinical outcomes, graft quality, and graft quantity after alveolar bone grafting with and without a resorbable collagen membrane. Twenty unilateral cleft patients undergoing defect repair with cancellous iliac bone were assigned to either the collagen membrane group (Mb group) or standard group without a membrane (St group). Postoperative pain and swelling, bone density, and bone volume and quality were assessed. The Mb group showed significantly lower postoperative pain than the St group (P < 0.001) and significantly less swelling (P < 0.01) on day 3 postoperative. The reduction in bone density was significantly greater in the St group than in the Mb group at 1 and 3 months postoperative (P ≤ 0.001), but not at 6 months. The reduction in bone volume in the St group was significantly greater than that in the Mb group at 3 months (29.11 ± 6.26% vs 17.67 ± 11.89%, P = 0.016) and 6 months postoperative (40.95 ± 6.81% vs 25.67 ± 11.51%, P = 0.002). Nine cases in the Mb group versus six in the St group showed good bone quality. In conclusion, the collagen membrane facilitated predictable clinical outcomes in bone maturation, bone volume preservation, and bone bridging in the alveolar bone graft.