CLINICAL EVALUATION OF BIORESORBABLE DEVICES IN CRANIO-MAXILLO-FACIAL SURGERY

Abstract

We evaluated the effectiveness of using bioresorbable devices compared with metal devices to treat cranio-maxillo-facial bone fractures and osteotomy. Multicenter clinical evaluation was performed including 10 hospitals. We used bioresorbable devices made of forged composites of hydoxyapatite (HA) particles and poly-l-lactide (PLLA) and then carefully observed each patient for signs of swelling, infection, plate exposure, migration and foreign body reaction. In the comparison of bioresorbable devices and metal devices, there was no significant difference in the number of complications. The number of re-operations was clearly reduced. Bioresorbable devices are useful and equally safe compared to metal devices; these devices can be considered a good alternative for metal devices.