METHODS: Twenty-five consecutive patients were included in this study. All the patients underwent bilateral zygomatic implant placement. Schneiderian membrane thickness (SMT) in 49 maxillary sinuses (one sinus was not included because of early loss of the zygomatic implants) was measured using CBCT before and at least 1 year after zygomatic implant placement. Ostium patency of each sinus was also evaluated and recorded.
RESULTS: In total, 84 zygomatic implants and 30 regular implants were placed in included patients. Two unilateral maxillary zygomatic implants in one patient were removed 2 months after implant placement. The SMT increased from 1.03 mm (inter-quartile range: 1.57 mm) to 1.33 mm (inter-quartile range: 1.98 mm) after a median follow-up time of 23.00 months (inter-quartile range: 14 months), and the difference was statistically significant. Before zygomatic implant insertion, 24.5% (12/49) of sinuses had SMT greater than 2 mm, whereas this value was 28.6% (14/49) after zygomatic implant placement. The percentage of sinuses observed with ostium patency also increased from 2.0% (1/49) to 12.2% (6/49).
CONCLUSIONS: Chronic Schneiderian membrane thickening could result from zygomatic implant insertion. Intensive postoperative care and clinical and radiographic monitoring are recommended after zygomatic implant placement.