Fractured facial bone reduction and resorbable plate fixation using tapper

A resorbable fixation system has many advantages, but there are complicated procedures to be accomplished to fix a resorbable plate. The complicated procedures in the fixation of a resorbable plate make the operation for facial fractures more difficult and can result in extended operation time and incomplete reduction or fixation. For these reasons, we suggest a new way of using a tapper that can make the surgery more simple and accurate than before. After the resorbable plate is properly located above the fractured site, a hole on the fracture fragment is made by drill, and the tapper is inserted into the hole. When the tapper is inserted at the proper depth, the fracture fragment can be reduced to right place by handling the inserted tapper. Then, the tapper is inserted to the end, and the handle is split. While the inserted tapper acting as a temporary metal screw is placed, another hole is made at nearby site and the screw is inserted. Next, the inserted tapper acting as a temporary metal screw is removed, and another screw is inserted into the hole from which the tapper was removed. From October 2006 to April 2008, we applied this procedure to 106 facial bone fractures in 68 patients, and no major complications were noted. In conclusion, we tried to make the operation more simple and accurate by using the tapper as an instrument for reduction and fixation of fracture fragment.