Bioabsorbable plates and screws: Current state of the art in facial fracture repair.

BACKGROUND AND

OBJECTIVES

The use of bioabsorbable materials in craniomaxillofacial surgery began a new era in fracture fixation. The purpose of this paper is to review the historical perspectives and the current concept of bioresorbable materials in fracture fixation.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: The authors review the biochemistry and clinical characteristics of bioabsorbable polymers--polylactic acid (PLA), polyglycolic acid (PGA), polydioxanone (PDS), and their copolymers. Their use and clinical perspectives by the Helsinki (authors') group and other study groups are presented.

RESULTS AND

CONCLUSIONS

These materials have proven to be safe in clinical applications. When manufactured with current technology, they are easy to handle. Economically, they are nearly equal to similar metal devices. The materials have met clinical success throughout the world, first in orthognathic surgery, followed by treatment of fractures of the upper facial skeleton and the mandible. Today, most maxillofacial fractures and osteotomies may be adequately fixed with bioabsorbable materials.