Clinical trial of modified ankylos implants for extraoral use in cranio- and maxillofacial surgery.
OBJECTIVE
Epithetic solutions in the maxillofacial region are indicated if plastic surgery reconstruction is not a valid option for an extensive defect. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the extraoral implants used provided sufficient retention to be used as anchoring aids.


METHODS
Between November 1999 and September 2002, 33 identical modified Ankylos implants for extraoral anchorage were placed in 10 patients for the fixation of various epitheses in the midfacial (eye, nose) and ear regions in the course of a clinical trial.


RESULTS
Over a follow-up period of 2 to 34 months, all implants remained osseointegrated (as confirmed radiographically), and the implants and epithetic restorations were clinically stable.


CONCLUSIONS
The results demonstrated that the lasting retention of maxillofacial epitheses provided by implants assures patients that their epitheses are securely fixed.


CONCLUSIONS
The demonstrated extraoral implant system not only achieved sufficient osseointegration but also showed good clinical handling and easy fixation possibilities for epithetic anchorage.
Schlegel
Karl Andreas
KA
Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany. schlegel@mkg.imed.uni-erlangen.de
Schultze-Mosgau
Stefan
S
Eitner
Stefan
S
Wiltfang
Joerg
J
Rupprecht
Stephan
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D004431:Ear, External / Q000002:abnormalities; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics / Q000295:instrumentation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009666:Nose; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D020273:Orbital Implants; D009918:Orbital Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000502:physiology; D010027:Osteotomy; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000209:etiology; D013499:Surface Properties