• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.875-878
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• 2011

Purpose: Absorbable implants are frequently used to fix facial bone fractures, because they are radiolucent and compatible with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Despite their increasing usage, however, there have been few reports about their long-term side-effects. In this paper, a case in which absorbable implants led to a foreign body reaction 17 months after their insertion is presented. Methods: A previously healthy 19-year-old male fell from a flight of stairs and visited the authors' hospital with right periorbital pain. Zygomaticomaxillary fracture involving right orbital floor was detected via a facial bone computed tomography (CT). Internal fixation with absorbable implants was followed by open reduction. 17 months after the surgery, the patient complained of localized periorbital swelling. Removal of the granulomatous lesion including the absorbable implants along with their biopsy and culture was performed. Results: The granulomatous lesion around the implants was firm and extended into the maxillary sinus. The histologic finding showed a microabscess with a foreign body reaction. Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus growth was confirmed in the culture. No definite abnormal symptoms ensued after the complete removal. Conclusion: A microabscess-forming granulomatous lesion around the absorbable implant can cause delayed symptomatic foreign body reaction despite its rare occurrence. Complete removal of the lesion including implants is expected to have a successful outcome if it is encountered.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2015

Purpose: We have developed a new method of segmenting the areas of absorbable implants and bone using region-based segmentation of micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) images, which allowed us to quantify volumetric bone-implant contact (VBIC) and volumetric absorption (VA). Materials and Methods: The simple threshold technique generally used in micro-CT analysis cannot be used to segment the areas of absorbable implants and bone. Instead, a region-based segmentation method, a region-labeling method, and subsequent morphological operations were successively applied to micro-CT images. The three-dimensional VBIC and VA of the absorbable implant were then calculated over the entire volume of the implant. Two-dimensional (2D) bone-implant contact (BIC) and bone area (BA) were also measured based on the conventional histomorphometric method. Results: VA and VBIC increased significantly with as the healing period increased (p<0.05). VBIC values were significantly correlated with VA values (p<0.05) and with 2D BIC values (p<0.05). Conclusion: It is possible to quantify VBIC and VA for absorbable implants using micro-CT analysis using a region-based segmentation method.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.361-369
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• 2019

Background: Trauma is one of the most common causes of enophthalmos, and post-traumatic enophthalmos primarily results from an increased volume of the bony orbit. We achieved good long-term results by simultaneously using an anatomical absorbable implant and iliac bone graft to correct post-traumatic enophthalmos. Methods: From January 2012 to December 2016, we performed operations on seven patients with post-traumatic enophthalmos. In all seven cases, reduction surgery for the initial trauma was performed at our hospital. Hertel exophthalmometry, clinical photography, three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT), and orbital volume measurements using software to calculate the specific volume captured on 3D-CT (ITK-SNAP, Insight Toolkit-SNAP) were performed preoperatively and postoperatively. Results: Patients were evaluated based on exophthalmometry, clinical photographs, 3D-CT, and orbital volume measured by the ITK-SNAP program at 5 days and 1 year postoperatively, and all factors improved significantly compared with the preoperative baseline. Complications such as hematoma or extraocular muscle limitation were absent, and the corrected orbital volume was well maintained at the 1-year follow-up visit. Conclusion: We present a method to correct enophthalmos by reconstructing the orbital wall using an anatomical absorbable implant and a simultaneous autologous iliac bone graft. All cases showed satisfactory results for enophthalmos correction. We suggest this method as a good option for the correction of post-traumatic enophthalmos.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.186.2-186.2
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• 1991

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.355-361
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• 2014

Background A blow-out fracture is one of the most common facial injuries in midface trauma. Orbital wall reconstruction is extremely important because it can cause various functional and aesthetic sequelae. Although many materials are available, there are no uniformly accepted guidelines regarding material selection for orbital wall reconstruction. Methods From January 2007 to August 2012, a total of 78 patients with blow-out fractures were analyzed. 36 patients received absorbable mesh plates, and 42 patients received titanium-dynamic mesh plates. Both groups were retrospectively evaluated for therapeutic efficacy and safety according to the incidence of three different complications: enophthalmos, extraocular movement impairment, and diplopia. Results For all groups (inferior wall fracture group, medial wall fractrue group, and combined inferomedial wall fracture group), there were improvements in the incidence of each complication regardless of implant types. Moreover, a significant improvement of enophthalmos occurred for both types of implants in group 1 (inferior wall fracture group). However, we found no statistically significant differences of efficacy or complication rate in every groups between both implant types. Conclusions Both types of implants showed good results without significant differences in long-term follow up, even though we expected the higher recurrent enophthalmos rate in patients with absorbable plate. In conclusion, both types seem to be equally effective and safe for orbital wall reconstruction. In particular, both implant types significantly improve the incidence of enophthalmos in cases of inferior orbital wall fractures.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.51-63
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• 1994

There has been many attempts to develop a method that can regenerate periodontal tissues that were lost due to periodontal diseasd, but none of them was completely successful. This study was designed to investigate the healing and regeneration of periodontal tissue when bone substitutes such as porous replamineform hydroxyapatite and porous resorbable calcium carbonate were used in combination with oxidized cellulose membrane and collagen absorbable hemostat, compared to a control where only oxidized cellulose membrane or collagen absorbable hemostat were used. Chronic periodontitis was induced on mandibular premolars of and adult dog by placing orthodontic elastic ligatures for 10 weeks. After flap operation, the control group were received oxidized cellulose membrane (control- I )or collagen absorbable hemostat (control- II) only, while one experimental group was given either porous replamineform hydroxyapatite or porous resorbable calcium carbonate in addition to oxidized cellulose membrane (Experimental I-A, I-B), and another experimental group was treated by using either porous replamineform hydroxyapatite or porous resorbable calcium carbonate in addition to collagen absorbable hemostat. (Experimental II-A, II-B) After 56 weeks, healing was histologically analyzed with the following results. 1. Apical migration of junctional epithelium was observed only in areas coronal to the notch for both control and experimental group. 2. Inflammatory cell infiltration was not observed in any groups. 3. Oxidized cellulose membrane and collagen absorbable hemostat were completely resorbed. 4. Newly-formed cementum was observed up to the level where junctional epithelium was located, for both control and experimental groups. 5. Bone formation was limited of the middle portion of the notch in the control group, where as experimental groups showed bone formation up to the level of implant materials coronal to the notch. 6. Minute resorption of apically located portions of implanted materials was observed in experimental group I-B and II-B only.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.233-238
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• 2019

Background: The open reduction of craniofacial bone fractures requires internal fixation using metal plates and screws, which have been considered the gold standard. However, metal implants pose a risk of palpation, protrusion, and foreign body reaction, and they may require an additional operation for removal. Recently, good results have been reported for absorbable implants which complement the disadvantages of metal implants. This study presents the results of using absorbable mesh, plates, and screws with cyanoacrylate for more accurate and firmer fixation of comminuted fractures of the maxilla. Methods: In total, 235 patients underwent operations for comminuted fractures of the maxilla. From January 2012 to December 2014, absorbable mesh and screws were used in 114 patients, while from January 2015 to December 2017, absorbable mesh, plates, and screws with cyanoacrylate were used in 121 patients. Open reduction of the bone fragments was performed, after which absorbable implants were accurately molded and fixed by screws. Results: All patients underwent postoperative computed tomography scans, which showed highly accurate reduction and firm fixation in the patients who underwent procedures using absorbable implants, screws, and cyanoacrylate. There were no postoperative complications or cases of abnormal facial contour. Conclusion: When absorbable implants and screws are used for maxillary fractures, no additional surgery to remove the metal plate is required. In addition, the use of cyanoacrylate enables accurate and firm fixation of the tiny bone fragments that cannot be fixed with screws.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.208-208
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• 1992

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.447-472
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• 1999

The preclinical and clinical studies reviewed herein show that rhBMP-2 induces normal physiologic bone in relevant defects in the craniofacial skeleton. The newly formed bone assumes characteristics of the adjacent resident bone, and allows placement and osseointegration of dental implants. Clearly, the bone inducing capacity of rhBMP-2 is carrier and site dependent. rhBMP-2 in an absorbable collagen sponge carrier induces relevant bone formation in space providing defects. Space providing carries extends this possibility to non-space providing sites. Notably, some ceramic and polymeric biomaterials may substantially interfere with rhBMP-2 induced osteogenesis.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.717-720
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• 2010

Purpose: Absorbable plate and screw fixation is widely used technique for internal rigid fixation in craniomaxillofacial surgery. However, there are some potential problems associated with the use of plate. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of bone fixation in facial fracture using absorbable mesh in place of absorbable plate. Methods: The records of 55 patients with zygomaticomaxilla fractures treated by open reduction, performed by the author from February 2008 to May 2009, were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were selected to receive absorbable mesh fixation. The incidence of all complications including infection, hypoesthesia, and deformity was examined. Analysis with postoperative computed tomography follow-up demonstrates degree of reduction. Results: Forty-six patients met criteria for inclusion in the study. All patients went on to satisfactory healing without complication. Postoperative computed tomography revealed good bony alignment similarly non affected side. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the rigid internal fixation of fractured bone fragments using absorbable mesh is more effective than absorbable plate, especially in comminuted fracture of maxilla.