Bessho K, Iizuka T, Murakami K
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan.
J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 1997 Sep;55(9):941-5;discussion 945-6. doi: 10.1016/s0278-2391(97)90065-3.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a bioabsorbable poly-L-lactide (PLLA) miniplate system for osteosynthesis.
Ultra-high-strength PLLA rods were fabricated using a drawing technique. This osteosynthesis system, consisting of bioabsorbable PLLA miniplates and screws, was used clinically on 50 patients.
The only post operative complications were two cases of postoperative infection, but these were controlled by an oral antibiotic regimen or plate removal. Bone healing was satisfactory in all cases, without delay of bony union or obvious displacement of segments after surgery.
The PLLA miniplates provided effective osteosynthesis of the maxillofacial skeleton.