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Rigid fixation with metallic plates & screws have been widely used in craniofacial surgery. But the metallic plating system had some problems including intracranial migration, growth restriction, foreign body reaction, infection and artifacts in radiologic evaluation. To overcome these drawbacks, there had been a continuous research on the development of a bioabsorbable skeletal fixation system using polymers of polylactic and polyglycolic acid. There is an increasing acceptance of its application as an alternative fixation device in craniofacial surgery.The resorbable fixation devices have been used in our department between January 2001 and June 2004 in craniofacial surgery. The aim of this retrospective study is to review the complications experienced during this period. We have used the SR-PLDLA(Self reinforecd poly- L/DL-lactide polymer, BioSorbFX(R)) in 131 patients of craniofacial bone fractures. Age varied from 3 to 72 and follow up period varied from 4 months to 40 months. We encountered 4 cases of foreign body reaction, 3 cases of infection and 1 cases of device exposure. In patient showing foreign body reaction, we treated with antibiotics. In case of uncontrolled infection, we removed implants.We think that the resorbable plating system on the rise as alternative method in craniofacial surgery. But more research is needed about its complications.
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