Use of resorbable plates and screws in pediatric facial fractures.
OBJECTIVE
The use of resorbable plates and screws for fixation of pediatric facial fractures is both well tolerated and effective. It enables realignment and stable positioning of rapidly healing fracture segments while obviating any future issues secondary to long-term metal retention.


METHODS
Forty-four pediatric facial fractures were treated over a 10-year period at our institution using differing techniques of polymeric bone fixation. Twenty-nine mandible fractures in patients under the age of 10 (age range, 6 months to 8 years) were treated. Displaced fractures of the symphysis, parasymphysis, body, and ramus underwent open reduction and either 1.5-mm or 2.0-mm plate and screw fixation in 14 patients. Subcondylar fractures were treated by a short period of maxillomandibular fixation (3 weeks) achieved with suture ligation between resorbable screws placed at the zygoma and symphysis or a circummandibular suture attached to a zygomatic screw. Fifteen patients (age range, 4 to 11 years) with isolated frontal, supraorbital, intraorbital, or orbitozygomatic fractures were treated by open reduction and internal fixation with 1.5-mm resorbable plates, mesh, and screws.


RESULTS
No long-term implant-related complications were seen in any of the treated patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Resorbable polylactic and polyglycolic acid plates and screws can be an effective fixation method for facial fractures in children in the primary and secondary dentition periods.
Eppley
Barry L
BL
Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis 46202, USA. beppley@iupui.edu
D020341:Absorbable Implants; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000293:injuries*; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation; D017102:Fracture Healing; D005624:Frontal Bone / Q000293:injuries; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D019248:Jaw Fixation Techniques; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000601:surgery; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000601:surgery; D009917:Orbital Fractures / Q000601:surgery; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D015051:Zygomatic Fractures / Q000601:surgery
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011108:Polymers; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid