CRANIAL BONE-GRAFTING - BIODEGRADABLE VERSUS TITANIUM FIXATION IN A RABBIT MODEL

Rigid internal fixation with miniplates and screws has enabled reconst ructive surgeons to position bony segments precisely. Unfortunately, o ur present systems have been associated with a potential adverse effec t on ultimate craniofacial growth and development Also, they may be pa lpable, necessitating secondary procedures for removal of the hardware . We have been involved in an ongoing study evaluating the efficacy of a commercially developed biodegradable system. In this study, we comp ared biodegradable lag screw fixation with traditional titanium screw fixation in full-thickness, membranous bone grafts harvested from the zygomatic arches to the snout in a rabbit model. The results were comp ared with standard hematoxylin and eosin stains and laser densometry. Although this study adds further credence to the resorption of bone gr afts, those secured with the polyglycolic acid screws demonstrated sig nificantly less resorption than those maintained in position by tradit ional methods.