A Pilot Study: The Effectiveness of Augmenting Alveolar Bone Defects with Bone Marrow Aspirate Impregnated Allogeneic Graft

Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the effectiveness of bone marrow aspirate impregnated allogeneic graft as compared with autogenous bone grafting in inducing adequate bone for endosseous dental implants. Materials and Methods: Sixteen patients with alveolar bone defects secondary to trauma, pathology or infection were augmented with bone marrow aspirate impregnated allogeneic bone. Bone induction was assessed by alveolar ridge height and width using cone beam CT obtained before and 4 months after treatment as compared to published controls using autogenous harvesting sites. Results: Mean increases in alveolar ridge height at 4 months after treatment were similar to established controls using traditional autogenous harvesting sites: 3.9 mm and 3.8 respectively. Mean increases in alveolar ridge width (buccal to lingual) at the crest of the ridge were similar between both autogenous, allogeneic and bone marrow aspirate groups: 4.33, 4.56 and 3.97 respectively. Seven of the 10 patients have received dental implants which have remained osseointegrated at least 1 year post-implantation. In addition, subject undergoing BMA harvest had VAS scores of one 1 week after harvest as compared to a VAS of 5.5 in published controls using traditional anterior iliac bone harvest. Also only 9% of subjects reported any pain 1 week after BMA harvest versus 15% and 70% in published controls using the proximal tibia as a harvest site. Conclusion: This study is the first pilot study using BMA impregnated allogeneic bone to augment alveolar bone defects as an adequate source of bone for functional loading of endosseous dental implants as compared to more traditional forms of grafting.