Increase of homogenous new bone formation using osteoinductive factor rhGDF-5 during sinus floor augmentation in Goettingen Minipigs

Objectives: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that recombinant human growth and differentiation factor-5 (rhGDF-5) induces an increased and homogenous distribution of new bone formation across the entire volume of sinus floor augmentation in 12 Goettingen Minipigs.

Material and methods: In a randomized split-mouth design, one maxillary sinus was augmented with the bone substitute β-TCP, whereas a combination of β-TCP and the osteoinductive growth factor rhGDF-5 was used on the contralateral side. To evaluate the influence of dose and time on the effectiveness of the factor, two different concentrations of rhGDF-5 (400 μg and 800 μg) and healing periods (4 and 12 weeks) were each analysed.

Results: After 4 weeks, a homogenous gradient of bone formation could be observed for all dosage groups, with decreasing bone density from the local bone towards the sinus membrane. Both test groups, however, achieved a higher total level of bone formation compared with the control group, which was only significant in the low-dose group (P = 0.0184). After 12 weeks, the influence of the growth factor significantly depends on the region (P = 0.023). In the low-dose group, the new bone formation did not differ significantly within the examined regions of the graft (P = 0.1118), suggesting a homogeneous bone formation over the entire augmentation. The gradient of the high-dose group was similar to the control group with a decrease of local bone development.

Conclusions: rhGDF-5 delivered on a β-TCP scaffold material leads to an increase in homogeneous new bone formation across the entire volume of the sinus floor augmentation.