title: Biodegradable fixation in oral and maxillofacial surgery.
abstract: Fixation of the maxillofacial skeleton following trauma or osteotomy surgery has been achieved by the use of titanium plates and screws for the past two decades. Advances in materials science has enabled the development of biodegradable or resorbable plates and screws for internal fixation of the maxillofacial skeleton. This paper presents the biochemistry of resorbable materials and our early experiences in their clinical applications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This manuscript illustrates the use of a resorbable material to fix the maxillofacial skeleton following osteotomies and trauma.
authors.affiliation: Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, UK.
authors.forename: Darryl M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Coombes
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Shelley
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.forename: Kenneth J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Sneddon
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D019248:Jaw Fixation Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007572:Jaw Fractures / Q000601:surgery; D020273:Orbital Implants; D056948:Orthognathic Surgical Procedures; D010027:Osteotomy; D011108:Polymers
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers