Preliminary experience with a dynamic resorbable fixation device for craniosynostosis surgery

The advent of resorbable osteosynthesis material has revolutionized craniomaxillofacial surgery. The need to provide rigid bony fixation in the surgical treatment of craniofacial deformities has inspired an ongoing evolution of surgical innovations and implants. Stability of the plates has been improved, but the duration of their stability remains an ongoing problem. In infant craniofacial fixation, it is important to provide initial stability, but after 4 to 6 weeks, this is no longer required as the brain is rapidly expanding. Surgery was performed on 10 patients with sagittal suture synostosis with conventional suture resection, remodeling, and fixation with resorbable miniplate (PolyMax-RAPID) struts held in position with modeled resorbable pockets affixed to the neurocranium with resorbable screws placed across the resected suture between June 2004 and September 2008. All the patients presented a satisfactory aesthetic result without complications after at least 1-year follow-up. We present a further innovative method of craniofacial fixation in infants using resorbable plates as floating struts providing stability and at the same time controlled dynamic expansion of the cranial vault guided by brain growth.