Retrospective Study of the Utility of u-HA/PLLA System for Orbital Wall Fracture Reconstruction

Abstract

　　Reconstruction of fractured orbital wall with unsintered hydroxyapatite and poly L-lactide composite（u-HA/PLLA）system has been gaining in popularity. However, few studies have reported the size of bone defect or inserted sheet. In this study, we examined the utility of u-HA/PLLA system retrospectively, evaluating both of them. This study included 10 patients（mean age, 43 years；8 men and 2 women；mean follow-up period, 15 months）who underwent surgical repair of orbital wall fractures with u-HA/PLLA system from 2014 to 2020. Clinical data were collected from the medical records, which included pre- and postoperative symptoms, the size of bone defect and inserted sheets, postoperative complications. 9 patients complained diplopia preoperatively, all of which experienced improvement after surgery. The mean area of bone defect was 3.6 cm² and the maximum was 6.6 cm². The average of the maximum side-to-side lengths of bone defects was 20.2 mm, and 23.4 mm was the average of those of inserted sheets. The average of the maximum front-to-back lengths of bone defects was 24.7 mm, and 25.4 mm similarly. No postoperative complications were found. In conclusion, u-HA/PLLA system seems to be useful in reconstruction of relatively large bone defect due to its structural stability, biocompatibility and low reactivity to tissue.