Experimental Evaluation of a New Implant Material in Frontal Sinus Obliteration: A Preliminary Report

Abstract

Frontal osteoplasty with exogenous material has been uniformly unsuccessful both experimentally and clinically. Our experiment was designed to test the long-term behavior of a new poly (tetrafluoroethylene)-carbon fiber implant material (Proplast) in a canine frontal sinus model. Varying conditions such as removal of the sinus mucoperiosteum, closure of the nasofrontal ducts, exposure of dura mater, and cerebrospinal fluid leaks were studied at intervals up to one year. Proplast was 100% successful in obliteration of the canine frontal sinus. The ultraporous nature allowed rapid vascularization, collagen ingrowth, and new bone formation, and led to stabilization rather than sequestration. Frontal obliteration with Proplast may be clinically superior to osteoplasty with any other presently available exogenous material or with osteoneogenesis alone, and may even obviate the few complications encountered with adipose implants. Only longer range experimental and clinical evaluation will provide the answer.