W. Tharanon et al., SURGICAL OUTCOMES USING BIOABSORBABLE PLATING SYSTEMS IN PEDIATRIC CRANIOFACIAL SURGERY, The Journal of craniofacial surgery, 9(5), 1998, pp. 441-444
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.