POLYGLYCONATE FIXATION SUCCESSFULLY STABILIZES ZYGOMATIC OSTEOTOMIES IN A NONHUMAN PRIMATE

Investigators have reported problems with metal plates and screws, inc luding restriction of craniofacial growth necessitating secondary remo val; bone resorption secondary to stress shielding; increased incidenc e of infection, extrusion, and palpability, especially in regions with minimal soft-tissue coverage; and interference with radiological stud ies and postoperative radiation therapy. Biodegradable rigid fixation can easily eliminate a majority of these problems because the material provides adequate fixation for a finite interval corresponding to bon y repair. For this reason, there has been increasing interest in devel oping satisfactory biodegradable plate and screw systems. We tested a commercially developed polyglyconate plate and screw system to stabili ze zygomatic osteotomies in a nonhuman primate model before embarking on clinical trials. In this experimental model, the stabilized segment s revealed satisfactory alignment; in the control animals, the bony fr agments became significantly displaced. This polyglyconate plate and s crew system appears to have a promising role in the surgical correctio n of craniomaxillofacial deformities in humans, and clinical testing s hould commence.