Resorbable plates in maxillary fixation. A 5-year experience

Aim: Metallic plates and screws have become the routine way of stabilizing the facial skeleton; however, there are many disadvantages in the use of metallic devices. Fixation systems made of biocompatible absorbable material, with appropriate load-bearing properties and sufficient degradation rate can overcome these disadvantages. Recently, resorbable materials were tested in maxillary, mandibular and chin osteotomies. Despite a lot of reports on the use of resorbable bone fixation devices in cranio-maxillo-facial application are now available, their use in preprosthetic surgery has yet to be adequately documented. The Authors report their 5-year experience in the employment of resorbable fixation in surgery of the superior maxilla, involving orthognathic and preprosthetic procedures of the upper jaws. The surgical technique is described and usefulness and advantages are discussed. Methods: Plates and screws were composed of an 82% poly-L-lactic acid/18% polyglycolic acid copolymer (PLLA-PGA); 50 orthognathic and 5 preprosthetic procedures of upper jaws were involved, performing Le Fort I osteotomies in all cases. Results: Our operations were were carried out without complications. Follow-up ranged from 6 months to 5 years. One patient developed a localized buccal space infection which resolved after a course of antibiotics given orally. Conclusions: Resorbable fixation should be considered adequate for fixation in maxillary surgery.