Patients perceptions of recovery after maxillary sinus augmentation with a minimally invasive implant device

Objective: Patients' perceptions of recovery following sinus augmentation procedures have scarcely been documented. The aim of the present prospective pilot clinical study was to evaluate the patient's perception of immediate postoperative recovery after sinus augmentation, using a minimally invasive implant device. Method and Materials: Eighteen patients (8 men, 10 women), average age 52 (median 48, range 38 to 72), who had been scheduled for sinus augmentation procedures, were asked to enroll in a prospective clinical study. A health-related quality-of-life questionnaire was given to the patient. The questionnaire was designed to assess patient's perception of recovery in four main areas: pain, oral function, general activity, and other symptoms. The questionnaire was compared to the surgical chart that described the surgical details and to the outcome. Results: Patients' perceptions of postoperative symptoms in the four tested areas: pain, oral function, general activity, and other symptoms were mostly scored "not at all" or "very little" from postoperative day (POD) 1. Most patients returned to work on POD 1. Conclusion: The current results offer a preliminary indication that patients undergoing sinus augmentation using a minimally invasive implant device can expect to experience minimum discomfort and immediate return to everyday activity. Keywords: bone augmentation, minimally invasive, quality of life, sinus floor elevation procedure, sinus lift