Resorbable Fixation in Facial Plastic and Head and Neck Reconstructive Surgery: An Initial Report on Polylactic Acid Implants

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and report our initial experience with a resorbable fixation system in facial cosmetic and head and neck reconstructive surgery. The specific goals were to determine in which settings the absorbable system could be used, to evaluate the outcome of its use, to detail complications that occurred, and to report our observations on advantages and disadvantages of the system compared with traditional methods of osteosynthesis and fixation. Study Design: A retrospective review of the initial 30 consecutive patients at the University of California, San Diego Division of Head and Neck Surgery who received polylactic acid (PLA) implants. Setting: Academic tertiary referral/level I trauma center. Methods: Criteria for inclusion into the study were any patient over age 18 who underwent a procedure involving the use of a PLA implant between March 1999 and October 2000. In addition to the typical indications for metal plate or mesh implantation, PLA was used for protected bone regeneration. Detailed records were kept of all patients in whom PLA implants were used, including the exact procedure and type of implant. All patients were operated by the authors. Operative reports, hospital charts, and office records were analyzed for any perioperative or postoperative complications. The attending surgeon noted advantages and disadvantages of the system. Patients have been followed from 2 to 18 months at the time of this report and are part of an ongoing long-term follow-up study. Results: PLA implants were used in 35 procedures on 30 consecutive patients (multiple unilateral fracture repairs were counted as a single procedure). Uses included fixation of craniofacial fractures (zygomaticomaxillary, orbit floor, frontal bone [N = 9]; fixation of craniofacial osteotomy [N = 8]; protected bone regeneration [N = 3]; mandible, cranial bone donor site [N = 2]; bone grafting [N = 2]; craniectomy reconstruction [N = 2], and soft tissue suspension [endoscopic browlifting, N = 6, static facial suspension, N = 1]). There were 4 complications in this series: 2 partial flap losses, 1 in a patient who had had preoperative radiation and the other in a heavy smoker; 1 infected cranial bone flap in a patient who had had two prior surgeries and radiation; and 1 wound dehiscence over a plate that was improperly contoured. Advantages noted by the surgeons were ease of contouring the mesh or plates, including in situ reshaping, apparent decrease in operative time, low implant profile, minimal soft tissue reaction, and radiolucency of the system, allowing postoperative imaging without metallic artifact. Conclusions: We found the PLA system to be highly effective, and noted no absolute contraindications to its use compared with standard metal plating systems. The 11% incidence of complications in this series was acceptable and probably not the result of the PLA implant material, although further experience is needed to determine the role of PLA implants in radiated tissue. The primary advantages to PLA appear to be its ease of use, radiolucency, eventual resorption, and, possibly, improved precision of reduction. The use in protected bone regeneration may also be an advantage, but long-term follow-up of our population will be needed to determine this.