Patient-Reported Healing of Static Computer-Assisted Sinus Lateral Window Osteotomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: The primary aim was to investigate differences in patient-reported healing outcomes between static computer-assisted sinus floor augmentation (SCA-SFA) and the conventional freehand approach (SFA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patient-reported healing outcomes were recorded in visual analog scale (VAS) on days 1-7 and 14, and intra and postoperative complications were assessed on weeks 2 and 4 after surgery. Operation time and operators' assessment of efficacy for SCA-SFA utility were recorded. Independent t-tests and Chi-square exact tests were performed for statistical evaluation between groups. RESULTS: Forty patients underwent lateral sinus augmentation (20 freehand-SFA + 20 SCA-SFA). No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups with regard to PROMs and intra, postoperative complications, apart from a higher level of swelling for SCA-SFA patients on day 2 after surgery (p = 0.04). The use of SCA-SFA significantly reduced the time needed to conduct the window osteotomy (SFA 18.56 +/- 12.17 min vs. SCA-SFA 11.43 +/- 4.75 min; p = 0.022) and the total surgery duration (SFA 69.89 +/- 20.08 min vs. SCA-SFA 56.24 +/- 16.01 min; p = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of the study, SCA-SFA should be preferred when the reduction of surgical time is a priority while the costs of the intervention do not play a major role, and the design of the surgical guide should strive for minimal invasiveness. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY: TCTR20230427005.