• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2016

Absorbable plates are used widely for fixation of facial bone fractures. Compared to conventional titanium plating systems, absorbable plates have many favorable traits. They are not palpable after plate absorption, which obviates the need for plate removal. Absorbable plate-related infections are relatively uncommon at less than 5% of patients undergoing fixation of facial bone fractures. The plates are made from a mixture of poly-L-lactic acid and poly-DL-lactic acid or poly-DL-lactic acid and polyglycolic acid, and the ratio of these biodegradable polymers is used to control the longevity of the plates. Degradation rate of absorbable plate is closely related to the chance of infection. Low degradation is associated with increased accumulation of plate debris, which in turn can increase the chance of infection. Predisposing factors for absorbable plate-related infection include the presence of maxillary sinusitis, plate proximity to incision site, and use of tobacco and significant amount of alcohol. Using short screws in fixating maxillary fracture accompanied maxillary sinusitis will increase the rate of infection. Avoiding fixating plates near the incision site will also minimize infection. Close observation until complete absorption of the plate is crucial, especially those who are smokers or heavy alcoholics. The management of plate infection is varied depending on the clinical situation. Severe infections require plate removal. Wound culture and radiologic exam are essential in treatment planning.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.113-117
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• 2012

Background : Nasal pyramid fractures accompanied by saddle nose deformities are not easily corrected by closed reduction. We used an absorbable plate as a perpendicular strut to support the collapsed "keystone area" and obtained good results. Methods : Between September 2008 and June 2011, 18 patients who had nasal pyramid fractures with saddle nose deformities underwent surgery. Pre- and postoperative facial computed tomographic images and photographs were taken to estimate outcomes. The operative technique included the mucoperichondrial dissection of the nasal septum, insertion of an absorbable plate prepared to an appropriate length to support the "keystone area", and fixation of the absorbable plate strut to the cartilaginous septum. Results : Functional and esthetic outcomes were satisfactory in all patients. Eleven patients assessed the postoperative appearance of the external nose as 'markedly improved' and 7 patients as 'improved'. The 5 surgeons scored the results as a mean of 4.5 on a 5-point scale. Conclusions : The use of an absorbable plate as a perpendicular strut requires no additional procedures because the plate is gradually absorbed. The mechanical strength provided by a buttress between the "keystone area" and the maxillary crest lasts for a long time before the strut is absorbed.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.619-625
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• 2010

Purpose: Trapdoor orbital blowout fracture is most common in orbital blowout fracture. Various materials have been used to reconstruct orbital floor blowout fracture. Absorbable alloplastic implants are needed because of disadvantages of nonabsorbable alloplastic materials and donor morbidity of autogenous tissue. The aim of the study is to evaluate usefulness of absorbable mesh plate as a reconstructive material for orbital blowout fractures. Methods: From December 2008 to October 2009, 18 trapdoor orbital floor blowout fracture patients were treated using elevator fixation, depressor fixation, or elevatordepressor fixation techniques with absorbable mesh plates and screw, depending on degree of orbital floor reduction, because absorbable mesh plates are less rigid than titanium plates and other artificial substitutes. Results: Among 18 patients, 5 elevator fixation, 4 depressor fixation, and 9 elevator and depressor fixation technique were performed. In all patients, postoperative computed tomographic (CT) scan showed complete reduction of orbital contents and orbital floor, and no displacement of bony fragment and mesh plate. Mean follow-up was 10 months. There were no significant intraoperative or postoperative complications. Conclusion: Three different techniques depending on the degree of orbital floor reduction are useful for open reduction and internal fixation of trapdoor orbital floor blowout fracture with absorbable mesh plates.

• 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.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.229-232
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• 2016

None of the reports of delayed infection mentioned a latent period exceeding 13 months. we report an infection that developed 18 months after implantation of an absorbable plate. A 16-year-old adolescent girl had undergone reduction and fixation with an absorbable plate for Lefort I and zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures 18 months prior at our hospital. In her most recent hospital visit as an outpatient, abscess was observed in periocular area. Computed tomography revealed sinusitis with an abscess above the infraorbital rim. Wound culture yielded methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Despite conservative treatments, wound state did not improve. Therefore, our department decided to perform surgery. Absorbable plate had been mostly absorbed but remained a bit. Bony depression of infraorbital rim and mucosal exposure of maxillary sinus anterior wall were observed. After the surgery, the patient recovered. We believe that the reason the wound infection and sinusitis manifested at the same time is because of several factor such as alcohol abuse, smoking, and mucosal exposure of maxillary sinus anterior wall. Absorbable plate takes 9 months to 3 years to be completely absorbed, thus we suggest studies with a follow-up of at least 3 years be undertaken to determine the outcomes of patients with many risk factors.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.419-422
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• 2008

Purpose: Absorbable bone fixation materials for operation of facial bone fracture are composed of poly- lactic acid(PLA) & poly-glycolic acid(PGA). These materials are absorbed after facial bone healing period. Therefore, these materials are harmless in human body. But because of it's radioopacity, the number and the location of the materials are not checked in follow-up X-ray examination. We studied absorbable bone fixation materials checked radiological examination. So, we made the absorbable plate composed of PLA, Hydroxyapatite (HA) and Gold(Au). Methods: Plate 1 was consisted of pure PLA. Plate 2 was consisted of PLA(50%) and HA(50%). Plate 3 - 7 were consisted of PLA(50%), and variable composition of HA & Au. The ratio of Au was as following. From the plate 3 to plate 7, the Au ratio was 1%, 5%, 10%, 17%, and 25%, respectively. Total 3 examinations were used-naked eye examination, simple X-ray examination, and Haunsfield unit of plate in CT examination. Results: Naked eye examination found out that the color of plate 1 was most white. As the Au ratio increases, the color of plate was getting close to khaki color. the radioopacity of plate 2 was similar cortical bone of face in simple X-ray. The Haunsfield unit of cortical bone of face was 1000 HU. Haunsfield unit of titanium plate was 2900 HU. Haunsfield unit of plate 1 through plate 7 were -242, 1489, 1776, 3052, 3092, 3095, and 3095, respectively. Conclusion: Radioopacity of plate 2 was similar to cortical bone of face. In CT examination, Hanusfield unit of plate 2 was similar to Hanusfield unit of cortical bone of face. Hanusfield unit of plate 4 - 7 were similar to Hanusfield unit of titanium plate. So to trace bone fixation materials after facial bone surgery, the best ratio of Au is about 1 - 5%. If this study is applied to facial bone surgery, radiologic follow up would be easy after facial bone surgery.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.297-303
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• 2019

Background: Absorbable plates are widely used in open reduction and internal fixation surgeries for facial bone fractures. Absorbable plates are made of polyglycolic acid (PGA), polylactic acid (PLA), polydioxane (PDS), or various combinations of these polymers. The degradation patterns of absorbable plates made from different polymers and clinical courses of patients treated with such plates have not been fully identified. This study aimed to confirm the clinical courses of facial bone fracture patients using absorbable plates and compare the degradation patterns of the plates. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted for 47 cases in 46 patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation surgery using absorbable plates to repair facial bone fractures. All surgeries used either PLA/PGA composite-based or poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA)/hydroxyapatite (HA) composite-based absorbable plates and screws. Clinical courses were confirmed and comparisons were conducted based on direct observation. Results: There were no naturally occurring foreign body reactions. Post-traumatic inflammatory responses occurred in eight patients (nine cases), in which six recovered naturally with conservative treatment. The absorbable plates were removed from two patients. PLA/PGA compositebased absorbable plates degraded into fragments with non-uniform, sharp surfaces whereas PLLA/HA composite-based absorbable plates degraded into a soft powder. Conclusion: PLA/PGA composite-based and PLLA/HA composite-based absorbable plates showed no naturally occurring foreign body reactions and showed different degradation patterns. The absorbable plate used for facial bone fracture surgery needs to be selected in consideration of its degradation patterns.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2009

Purpose: Blow out fracture can present tenderness, swelling, enophthalmos, extraoccular muscle limitation, paresthesia, diplopia according to severity of injury, so reconstruction of blow out fracture is important. Orbital soft tissue should be in orbit and defected orbital wall should be corrected by autologus tissue or alloplastic implants. Every implants have their merits and faults, every implants are used various. This study was designed to compare the sequelae of blow-out fracture repair using the alloplastic implants: micro-titanium mesh(Micro Dynamic titanium $mesh^{(R)}$, Leibinger, Germany), porous polyethylene ($Medpor^{(R)}$, Porex, USA), absorbable mesh plate(Biosorb $FX^{(R)}$ . Bionx Implants Ltd, Finland). Methods: Between January 2006 and April 2008, 52 patients were included in a retrospective study analysing the outcome of corrected inferior orbital wall fracture with various kind of implants. Implants were inserted through subciliary incision. Twenty patients were operated with micro-titanium mesh, fourteen patients with porous polyethylene and eighteen patients with absorbable mesh plate. In comparative category, enophthalmos, diplopia, range of motion of extraoccular muscle, inferior orbital nerve injury were more on frequently statistically in patients. Results: Fourteen of 18 patients underwent surgical repair to improve diplopia, 11 of 17 patients to improve parasthesia, 11 of 15 patients to improve enophthalmos, 8 of 9 patients to improve extraoccular muscle limitation. Duration of follow-up time ranged from 6 months to 12 months(mean, 7.4 months). There was no statistic difference of sequelae between micro titanium mesh and porous polyethylene and absorbable mesh plate in blowout fracture, inferior wall. Conclusion: There is no difference of sequelae between micro-titanium mesh, porous polyethylene and absorbable mesh plate in blow-out fracture, inferior wall. The other factors such as defect size, location, surgeon's technique, may influence the outcome of blow-out fracture repair.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.114-119
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• 2018

Background: The ideal absorbable plating system should provide sufficient rigidity and then be absorbed within a timely manner. The Resorb-X has been recently developed as a plating system with a mixture ratio of 50:50 poly(D, L-lactide). Methods: We present seven of 121 patients who experienced delayed degradation with this absorbable plate. One hundred twenty-one patients with facial bone fracture underwent surgical treatment from March 2011 to March 2015, and rigid fixation was achieved with the Resorb-X. Results: Of 121 patients, seven (5.8%) developed complications at the surgical sites. Six of 102 cases underwent fixation of the infraorbital rim and one of 73 underwent fixation of the frontozygomatic buttress; the other sites of fixation did not develop delayed degradation. Foreign body granuloma developed at the earliest by postoperative 20 months and at the latest by postoperative 28 months (average, 23.5 months). Conclusion: We observed that the use of absorbable plates in incision sites or areas with thin skin can increase the possibility of delayed degradation. When performing surgery in these areas, the normal skin above the fixed location should be covered sufficiently.

• 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.