Clinical Study on Use of Biodegradable Plate and Screw in Orthognathic Surgery

Park, Sung Soo; Choi, Jin Young

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The titanium fixation system has been used in orthognathic surgery for fixation of bone segments usually, but the biodegradable fixation system was developed and also being used. The strongest point in the biodegradable system is that no extra operation should be needed to remove fixation materials. In spite of this merit, oral & maxillofacial surgeons hesitate to use this system in fracture or orthognathic surgery. In this study, as we got some clinical experiences, we'd like to report the result of clinical study using the biodegradable fixation system in orthognathic surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 35 patients composed of 17 males and 18 females with 25 osteotomies in maxilla and 34 osteotomies in mandible were fixated with the biodegradable fixation system(Inion CPS(R)). We investigated methods of stabilization, fixation time, and complications on the basis of the method as above.
RESULTS
Four 2mm thick L shaped plates with 7 holes of which 1 hole was removed were fixed in maxilla with six 2.0x7mm screws. Three 2.5x16~18mm screws were used to fix superior ramus area and one mandibular angle area in mandible. It took about 27.4 minutes in maxilla, 25.3 minutes in mandible to perform the fixation which took longer time than the titanium system(9.5 minutes in maxilla, 8 minutes in mandible). Generally, there was no problem except 9 cases in which there were some complications.
CONCLUSIONS
In most cases, the biodegradable fixation system can be used without problem in usual orthognathic surgery. But, this system is inferior to the titanium fixation one in some respects such as fixation time, size, and physical property. Some supplementations for such weak points as aforementioned should be needed for the universal use of biodegradable materials.