title: Stable fixation with absorbable sutures in craniofacial surgery.
abstract: The present study analyses the exclusive use of absorbable suture material (Vicryl(®), Ethicon, Germany) in the fixation of transposed bone segments in craniofacial surgery without modification of the osteotomy design. Among 129 children up to 24 months of age, osteosynthesis was conducted exclusively with Vicryl(®) sutures. The stability of postoperative results was evaluated and possible foreign body reactions were examined within the framework of clinical and radiological routine checks. All examined children exhibited stable postoperative conditions while the length of hospital stay was not affected. X-ray examinations of the skull in two planes demonstrated good bony union in all cases. Relevant foreign body reactions were not observed. The exclusive application of absorbable suture material enables stable and cost effective osteosynthesis. Significant foreign body reactions were not observed. The exclusive use of absorbable sutures did not alter the osteotomy design.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany. Electronic address: linz_c@ukw.de.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Linz
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kunz
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Section of Pediatric Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krauß
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Böhm
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Radiology, Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wirth
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wirbelauer
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Section of Pediatric Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schweitzer
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003398:Craniosynostoses / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D013537:Sutures
keywords: Absorbable sutures; Craniofacial; Osteosynthesis; Surgery