Polycaprolactone Resorbable Mesh versus Titanium Mesh for the Management of Orbital Floor Fracture: A Comparative Study.

BACKGROUND

Orbital floor fractures are among the most common craniofacial injuries, often resulting from high-impact trauma such as motor vehicle accidents. Orbital floor fractures comprise 4%-16% of facial fractures and are of particular interest due to their unique anatomy and proximity to the eye. Treatment typically involves reconstruction with various materials as described in the literature.

AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of polycaprolactone (PCL) mesh in comparison to titanium mesh in the management of orbital floor fractures.

METHODS

Twenty patients with clinically and radiographically confirmed orbital floor fractures were assigned to two groups: Group A (PCL mesh) and Group B (titanium mesh). Pre- and postoperative assessments included ocular motility, diplopia, dystopia, enophthalmos, infection, and implant stability. Follow-up evaluations were conducted on postoperative day 1, at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months.

RESULTS

PCL mesh demonstrated superior intraoperative handling, whereas adaptability and stability were similar between groups. Postoperatively, diplopia occurred in one patient (5%), dystopia in three patients (15%), and enophthalmos in five patients (25%), with no cases of infection, inflammatory response, implant migration, or hardware failure. All fractures achieved successful defect closure.

CONCLUSION

Both PCL and titanium meshes are effective for moderately sized orbital floor reconstructions. PCL mesh offers easier handling and is a viable alternative to titanium, though larger studies with longer follow-up are needed to confirm these findings.