title: Recent advances in fixation of the craniomaxillofacial skeleton.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fixation of the craniomaxillofacial skeleton is an evolving aspect for facial plastic, oral and maxillofacial, and plastic surgery. This review looks at the recent advances that aid in reduction and fixation of the craniomaxillofacial skeleton.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More surgeons are using resorbable plates for craniomaxillofacial fixation. A single miniplate on the inferior border of the mandible may be sufficient to reduce and fixate an angle fracture. Percutaneous K-wires may assist in plating angle fractures. Intraoperative computed tomography (CT) may prove to be useful for assessing reduction and fixation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Resorbable plates are becoming increasingly popular in orthognathic surgery and facial trauma surgery. There are newer operative techniques for fixating the angle of the mandible. Also, the utilization of the intraoperative CT provides immediate feedback for accurate reduction and fixation. Prebent surgical plates save operative time, decrease errors, and provide more accurate fixation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Science, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Danny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Meslemani
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Kellman
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000328:Adult; D001860:Bone Plates; D001864:Bone Wires; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D008440:Maxillary Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed