Arch Plast Surg.  2013 Jul;40(4):330-334. 10.5999/aps.2013.40.4.330.

The Clinical Usefulness of Ultrasound-Aided Fixation Using an Absorbable Plate System in Patients with Zygomatico-Maxillary Fracture

• Lee JH
• Park JH

• KMID: 2167883
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5999/aps.2013.40.4.330

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Ultrasound-aided fixation is a recently developed alternative method of treatment of zygomatico-maxillary (ZM) fracture, and it can resolve the problems of excessive torsion force and subsequent fractures of screws. We conducted this study to evaluate the clinical usefulness of ultrasound-aided fixation as compared with the conventional fixation method using a drill and an expander in patients with ZM fracture.
METHODS
We conducted a retrospective study in 35 patients with ZM fracture who had been treated at our hospital during a period ranging from March of 2008 to December of 2010. We divided them into two groups: an ultrasound-aided fixation group, comprising 13 patients who underwent ultrasound-aided fixation (SonicWeld Rx, KLS Martin), and a conventional group, comprising 22 patients who underwent conventional fixation (Biosorb FX, Linvatec Biomaterials Ltd.). We compared such variables as sex, direction, age at operation, follow-up period, operation duration, number of fixed holes, and time to discharge between the two groups.
RESULTS
The ultrasound-aided fixation reduced the operation duration by about 30 minutes as compared with that of conventional fixation. There was no significant difference in follow-up period, number of fixed holes, or time to discharge between the two groups. Furthermore, there were no complications in either group.
CONCLUSIONS
The ultrasound-aided fixation of fractured ZM bone using an absorbable implant system is safe and effective in promptly reducing the bone fracture and providing satisfactory cosmetic outcomes over time.

Keyword

Facial bone; Fractures, bone; Ultrasonics; Bone plates

MeSH Terms

Absorbable Implants
Biocompatible Materials
Bone Plates
Cosmetics
Facial Bones
Follow-Up Studies
Fractures, Bone
Humans
Mandrillus
Retrospective Studies
Ultrasonics
Biocompatible Materials
Cosmetics