BONE-REPLACEMENT BY IONOMER CEMENT IN OSTEOPLASTIC FRONTAL-SINUS OPERATIONS

Ionomer-based cement is a new bone replacement material. After promisi ng results in middle ear and skull base surgery, we started to use Ion ocap as an alternative to metal osteosynthesis material. Between 1993 and 1995, 20 men and 9 women were treated with an osteoplastic approac h for complicated frontal sinus diseases at Johann Wolfgang Goethe Uni versity. Ionocap as bonding material for bone was used in 22 of the pa tients. The indications for osteoplastic surgery were recurrent fronta l rhinosinusitis, mucoceles, skull base fractures, osteomas and mening ocele. The surgical procedure using bone cement was found to be much e asier and shorter, the functional stability achieved was at least equa l and the cosmetic outcome was clearly superior when compared to cases done with metal osteosynthesis. No rejection of the material or osteo necrosis was observed. In no case was the cement placed in direct cont act to dura mater. Our findings show that ionomer-based cement can be recommened in osteoplastic frontal sinus surgery, but Ionocap should o nly be used strictly according to the guidelines of the supplier.