title: Repair of orbital floor fractures using bioresorbable poly-L/DL-lactide plates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the long-term clinical and radiologic findings after insertion of a bioresorbable polylactide plates P(L/DL)LA 70/30 implant (PolyMax) in the repair of orbital floor and wall defects, with special focus on stability and clinical signs of foreign-body reaction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-six patients who had orbital blowout fractures with at least 1.5-cm(2) bone defects in 1 or 2 walls were included in this retrospective study. Each defect was reconstructed within 2 weeks of injury using a triangle form plate of polylactide. Computed tomography (CT) was performed before the operation and 1 year postoperatively. In 17 patients, additional CT was performed within 2 to 3 years postoperatively. Clinical assessments were performed preoperatively and at 3-, 6-, and 12-month intervals postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the patients showed clinical foreign-body reactions. There was no evidence of infection. Diplopia was seen in 6 patients 3 months postoperatively but normalized in 5 patients at 6 months. Mild enophthalmos was seen in 2 patients postoperatively at 1 year. No sagging of the reconstructed area was found on CT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The P(L/DL)LA 70/30 implant is a well-tolerated, reliable material in orbital repair of relatively large defects. The bioresorbable plate leaves a stable bridge of healed bone or soft tissue after complete degradation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Cantonal Hospital Lucerne, 6000 Lucerne 16, Switzerland. olivier.lieger@ksl.ch
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lieger
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schaller
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zix
authors.forename: Frauke
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kellner
authors.forename: Tateyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iizuka
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001860:Bone Plates; D005260:Female; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009917:Orbital Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011091:Polyesters; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; C033616:poly(lactide)