Analysis of clinical complications

Seven studies provide information on clinical complications with a global sample of 232 patients. Clinical complications among the different authors range from 0 to 14.3%, being the weighted mean complication rate 3.4% with an IC 95% [0 7.5] (Fig. 4c) Clinical complications analyzed in the studies were sinusitis, nasal bleeding, nasal obstruction, nasal secretion, mucopurulent drainage, headache and pain or tenderness in the region of the sinus, facial pain-pressure-fullness, and decreased sense of smell. The most common clinical complication was epistaxis, reported in three studies, followed by sinusitis, reported in only one study. Other complications did not appear. With regard to the influence of penetration level, 193 patients can be included in the analysis. The estimated complication rate was 3.54% CI [0 9.62] in implant penetrating ≤ 4 mm and 1.05% IC [0 9.63] in implant penetrating > 4 mm. The differences were not statistically significant in the rate of clinical complications according to the degree of penetration (p = 0.642).

Analysis of radiographic complications

Five studies provide information on the radiographic complication rate with a global sample of 137 patients. Complications between the different authors range from 0 to 60%, being the weighted complication rate 14.8% with an IC 95% [0 37.1](Fig. 4d). Radiographic complications analyzed in the articles were thickening of the Schneiderian membrane, bone reaction to the implant, and any sinus pathology. The most common radiographic complication was thickening of the Shneiderian membrane, reported in two studies in 16% of patients in Tabrizi et al. study and 60% of the implants in Jung et al. study. Other complications did not appear.

With regard to the influence of the penetration level, the estimated complication rates are 5.29% CI [0 33.8] in implant penetrating ≤ 4 mm and 29.3% CI [0 64.6] in implant penetrating > 4 mm. There were no statistical significant differences in the radiographic complication rate according to the degree of penetration (p = 0.301).