The 'sausage technique' for the repair of large maxillary sinus membrane perforations.

Maxillary sinus membrane perforation is a common complication of lateral window sinus floor elevation and causes significant therapeutic challenges. A novel intrasinus 'sausage technique' is presented that involves spanning a collagen membrane across the osteotomy window with dual internal-external fixation. A stable protective membrane is used to encapsulate the bone grafts, simultaneously isolating perforations and preserving sinus floor vascularity. Clinical applications of this technique have demonstrated its ability to reliably repair large or complete perforations and improve success rates for sinus floor elevation.