CLINICAL-EXPERIENCE WITH THE MEDPOR POROUS POLYETHYLENE IMPLANT

The Medpor porous polyethylene implant is a highly stable and somewhat flexible porous alloplast that has been shown to exhibit rapid tissue ingrowth into its pores. A total of 116 Medpor implants were placed i n 70 patients over a four-year period. Implants were used for the chin , malar area, nasal reconstruction, ear reconstruction, orbital recons truction, and the correction of craniofacial contour deformities. Many of these implants were placed in areas long considered problematic su ch as areas of thin soft tissue coverage, extensive scarring, and seve re facial burns. Nine complications occurred including seven exposures , all of which occurred in areas of minimal soft tissue coverage. Beca use of the rapid vascularization of the implants, only two implants we re removed, both from the columella. On the basis of our results, it i s felt that the Medpor implant is an excellent alternative to existing implant materials. The implant is easy to shape; it is strong yet som ewhat flexible; it is remarkably stable; and it exhibits tissue ingrow th into its pores.