Bioresorbable Plates and Screws in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery : Latest Technique To Deal With Fractures

As lifestyles are changing and faster modes of transportation are available,these have lead to an increase in the number of maxillofacial injuries all over the world, thereby necessitating better methods and advancements in treatment modalities in maxillofacial region. Since face is the most prominent part of the body, fractures of the facio-maxillary skeleton is a common finding with most of the road traffic accidents, industrial accidents and altercations. Rigid internal fixation with various bioresorbable materials has recently been studied by pioneers in the field and reported very high success rates with bioresorbable plates and screws. Biocompatible and bioresorbable poly-alpha-hydroxyl acid derivatives namely poly-L-lactide (PLLA), poly glycolide (PGA) and polydioxanone have been proposed as potential orthopedic repair materials. A new technologic advancement in biomaterials research has provided a copolymer of poly-L-Lactic acid and glycolic acid (PLLA-PGA) in the field of craniofacial surgery. The strength, malleability and resorption profile can be further favourably tailored by incorporation of caprolactone (CL), dioxanone (DI) or trimethylene carbonate (TMC).