SURGICAL OUTCOMES USING BIOABSORBABLE PLATING SYSTEMS IN PEDIATRIC CRANIOFACIAL SURGERY

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surgical outcomes of the 1.5-mm LactoSorb plating system (Walter Lorenz Surgical, Inc., Jackso nville, FL, U.S.A.) used to stabilize the osteotomized calvarial bone in pediatric patients who have undergone craniofacial surgery. The rec ords of 33 consecutive pediatric patients who underwent craniofacial s urgery from January 1997 through December 1997 were reviewed. There we re 18 male and 15 female patients, and the age ranged from 4 months to 12 years. Patients were followed-up at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 m onths, and 12 months after surgery. For those patients reviewed, the f ollowing information is included: age, sex, diagnosis, surgical proced ures, number and size of LactoSorb plates and screws used in each pati ent, operative difficulty of the screws and the heat pack, and postope rative complications, including wound healing, palpability, and infect ion. The LactoSorb plating system was used to stabilize the osteotomiz ed calvarial bones in 33 patients who were diagnosed with: 1) craniosy nostosis, 2) hydrocephalus, 3) fibrous dysplasia, or 4) cranial deform ation. Orbital rim advancement and anterior cranial vault reshaping we re performed in 17 patients. Posterior cranial vault reshaping, orbita l rim advancement, and anterior cranial vault reshaping were performed in eight patients. Posterior cranial vault reshaping only was perform ed in seven patients. Excision of fibrous dysplasia from temporal bone was performed in one patient. One patient had a postoperative wound i nfection, and LactoSorb plates were palpable postoperatively in four p atients. The LactoSorb plating system provided adequate rigidity for s tabilizing the osteotomized calvarial bone during surgery and maintain ed adequate rigidity after surgery during the bone healing period befo re absorption. This plating system showed satisfactory results in pedi atric craniofacial surgery patients.