title: Resorbable plate-screw systems: clinical applications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the results we obtained from 37 patients referred to our clinics with resorbable plate-screw systems which have been claimed as biodegradable fixation materials and used in craniofacial, maxillofacial and orthopedic reconstructive procedures owing to their advantages such as biocompatibility, adequate biomechanical resistance, longer dwelling time, elimination through physiological routes without causing any foreign body reaction and/or significant sequaleae.
  
  
  METHODS
  Resorbable plate-screw systems used in 37 patients between 2000-2003 for various craniofacial reconstructive procedures were evaluated as for their efficacy, and biocompatibility.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adequate fixation was obtained in all patients, excluding one case operated for mandibula fracture whose reconstruction was completed with titanium plate-screw system. No serious complication was seen except a granuloma and sinus formation on subciliary incision in one patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Owing to their improved polylactic acid/polyglycolic acid ratio resorbable plate-screw systems which contain varying compositions of polylactic acid and polyglycolic acid copolymers are ideal fixation materials used favourably in maxillofacial, craniofacial and orthopedic reconstructive surgery in that they make effective fixation and have further advantages such as biocompatibility, adequate biomechanical resistance against distraction and compression forces in the early postoperative period, longer dwelling time and elimination from the body through physiological routes without causing any foreign body reaction or significant sequaleae.
authors.affiliation: Kirikkale University Faculty of Medicine, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department, Kirikkale, Turkey. tarikmd@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Tarik
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cavuşoğlu
authors.forename: Reha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yavuzer
authors.forename: Yavuz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Başterzi
authors.forename: Serhan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tuncer
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Latifoğlu
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000328:Adult; D001863:Bone Screws; D002648:Child; D003394:Craniofacial Dysostosis; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D013580:Synostosis / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome