Experience with e-PTFE membrane application to bone grafting of cleft maxilla

Abstract

Previous clinical studies and animal experiments have demonstrated that the placement of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) membranes (GORE-TEX®) may be valuable for bone regeneration in nonosteogenic areas. This study aimed to explore the application of this technique to bone grafting of wide alveolopalatal clefts. Ten patients with bilateral clefts were selected and during a 2-week period, all received autogeneic cancellous iliac bone bilaterally. The membrane was placed nasally and orally on the larger cleft side and removed after 3-6 months. All patients have been followed for 14 months. Bone graft incorporation was successful except for one patient (membrane side), who was regrafted 1 year later. However, soft-tissue problems with membrane exposure occurred in the majority of patients, while on the nonmembrane side, healing was uneventful in all cases. Further research in membrane technology is necessary before this method can be accepted for cleft grafting. © 1995 Munksgaard International Publishers Ltd.