Anatomical 3-dimensional pre-bent titanium implant for orbital floor fractures.
OBJECTIVE
This cadaver study evaluates the use of pre-bent 3-dimensional titanium mesh implants for orbital floor and medial wall reconstruction.


METHODS
Nonrandomized comparative study.


METHODS
Eight human cadaveric heads (n = 16 orbits).


METHODS
Transcutaneous incisions were used to expose both orbital floors in each cadaveric head. Unilateral orbital floor and medial wall fractures were generated in each specimen. The contralateral orbit remained uninjured. The fractures then were repaired with pre-bent titanium mesh fan plates molded from aluminum templates presenting different sizes. The templates were generated from topographical computed tomography (CT) data previously obtained from normal subjects. The accuracy of orbital reconstruction was evaluated with postoperative CT scans.


METHODS
The mean value of the distances between the implant and the bony orbit was evaluated.


RESULTS
The mean distance between all 16 plates and their respective orbital floors/medial walls was 0.81+/-0.74 mm. Mean values were 0.68+/-0.63 mm for the unfractured side and 0.93+/-0.82 mm for the fractured side. No significant differences were found between orbits when evaluated for side of injury, gender, or size of defect.


CONCLUSIONS
Pre-bent 3-dimensional titanium mesh implants provide accurate reconstruction of orbital floor and medial orbital wall fractures. The mean implant error was <1 mm for all orbits studied.
Metzger
Marc C
MC
Department of Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Schön
Ralf
R
Weyer
Nils
N
Rafii
Amir
A
Gellrich
Nils-Claudius
NC
Schmelzeisen
Rainer
R
Strong
Bradley E
BE
D000328:Adult; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001860:Bone Plates; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D009915:Orbit / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009917:Orbital Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D014025:Titanium; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014584:User-Computer Interface
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D014025:Titanium