Periodontal surgery using rhFGF-2 with deproteinized bovine bone mineral or rhFGF-2 alone: 2-year follow-up of a randomized controlled trial

Aim To compare outcomes of rhFGF-2 + DBBM therapy with rhFGF-2 alone in the treatment of intrabony defects. This study provides 2-year follow-up results from the previous randomized controlled trial. Materials and Methods Defects were randomly allocated to receive rhFGF-2 + DBBM (test) or rhFGF-2 (control). Treated sites were re-evaluated at 2 years postoperatively, using original clinical and patient-centred measures. Results Thirty-eight sites were available for re-evaluation. At 2 years, both groups showed a significant improvement in clinical attachment level (CAL) from baseline. A gain in CAL of 3.4 +/- 1.3 mm in the test group and 3.1 +/- 1.5 mm in the control group was found. No significant inter-group difference was noted. Both groups showed a progressive increase in radiographic bone fill (RBF). The test treatment yielded greater RBF (56%) compared with the control group (41%). The control treatment performed better in contained defects in terms of CAL and RBF. There was no significant difference in patient-reported outcomes between groups. Conclusions At 2-year follow-up, the test and cotrol treatments were similarly effective in improving CAL, whereas the test treatment achieved a significantly greater RBF. In both treatments, favourable clinical, radiographic, and patient-reported outcomes can be sustained for at least 2 years. Trial registration The University Hospital Medical Information Network-Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR) 000025257.

Automated summary

The study compared the outcomes of rhFGF-2 + DBBM therapy and rhFGF-2 alone in treating intrabony defects, showing that both treatments were equally effective in improving clinical attachment level (CAL) at 2 years, but the test treatment achieved significantly greater radiographic bone fill (RBF). Favorable clinical, radiographic, and patient-reported outcomes were sustained for at least 2 years in both treatments.