Preliminary report on use of a p(HEMA)-collagen composite in maxillo-facial surgery.

After being thoroughly tested on animals, a composite polymer material based on poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) and calf skin collagen has been allowed in a limited clinical trial in the Czech Republic. Up to now, the medical use of the biomaterial comprises implants for maxillo-facial surgery, i.e. augmentation of soft tissues (seven cases); reparation of fractured eye sockets (12 cases) and in special indications (two cases). The clinical results obtained so far are presented here as case reports. These preliminary results are very encouraging for a broader utilization of this type of biomaterial in the surgical fields of human medicine.