Presurgical infusion of Proplast: primate facial augmentation

Presurgical infusion of Proplast (Vitek, Inc., Houston) with various solutions has been advoccated to enhance rapid ingrowth of tissue and stabilization of the implant. A comparison of Proplast blocks infused with saline solution, autogenous plasma, plasma with antibiotics, and control blocks was done after subperiosteal implantation in the maxillas and mandibles of primates. At specified time intervals from two to 66 weeks, implants were removed and examined for the character and degree of infiltration of tissue as well as for local cellular response to the alloplast. Microscopic examination of the implant showed increasing stabilization of tissue and decreasing local cellular response with increasing time of implantation. Examination of these parameters showed blocks infused with plasma to be least desirable.