Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 26, 2026
08:15
3D Planning and Printing of Patient Specific Implants for Reconstruction of Bony Defects
Published on: August 4, 2020
6.0K
Retained broken implants in the craniomaxillofacial skeleton
Vigneswaran Nallathamby1, Hanjing Lee1, Yap Yan Lin1
1Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Department of Surgery, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.
Craniomaxillofacial Trauma & Reconstruction
|July 22, 2014
Summary
In facial fracture surgery, drill bits can break and remain in bone. This case report reviews managing these retained broken implants during open reduction and internal fixation procedures.
Area of Science:
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Trauma Surgery
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Facial fractures are common injuries managed at Level 1 trauma centers.
- Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) is a standard surgical technique for facial bone repair.
- Surgical procedures involve bone drilling and implant placement for fracture stabilization.
Observation:
- Drill bits used for pilot hole creation can fracture during ORIF.
- Retained fragments of surgical instruments, such as drill bits, can become embedded in bone.
- This complication necessitates specific management strategies to ensure patient safety and optimal healing.
Findings:
- A case of a retained broken drill bit during facial fracture ORIF is presented.
- Literature review on the incidence and management of retained broken implants and devices is discussed.
- Successful retrieval of the broken implant was achieved, restoring anatomical reduction and facilitating healing.
Implications:
- Awareness of potential instrument failure during maxillofacial surgery is crucial.
- Development of techniques for managing retained surgical fragments is important for trauma surgeons.
- Minimizing complications associated with ORIF enhances patient outcomes in facial trauma care.
Related Concept Videos
01:08Overview of the Skull
12.1K
The cranium (skull) is the skeletal structure of the head that supports the face and protects the brain. It is subdivided into the facial bones and the brain case, or cranial vault. The facial bones underlie the facial structures, form the nasal cavity, enclose the eyeballs, and support the teeth of the upper and lower jaws.
The cranial vault surrounds and protects the brain and houses the middle and inner ear structures. This cavity is bounded superiorly by the rounded top of the skull, which...
The cranial vault surrounds and protects the brain and houses the middle and inner ear structures. This cavity is bounded superiorly by the rounded top of the skull, which...
12.1K
01:22Sutures of the Skull
13.8K
The human skull is composed of several bones that come together to protect the brain and support the structures of the face. The junctions where these bones meet are called sutures.
Sutures are immobile joints between adjacent bones of the skull. The narrow gap between the bones is filled with dense, fibrous connective tissue that unites the bones. The long sutures located between the skull bones are not straight but instead follow irregular, tightly twisting paths. These twisting lines tightly...
Sutures are immobile joints between adjacent bones of the skull. The narrow gap between the bones is filled with dense, fibrous connective tissue that unites the bones. The long sutures located between the skull bones are not straight but instead follow irregular, tightly twisting paths. These twisting lines tightly...
13.8K
01:27Fractures: Bone Repair
5.8K
Treatment for a fracture is based on the type of break, the bone affected, and the patient's age.
Minor fractures with no bone displacement are treated by immobilizing the fractured bone using a cast or splint. However, in the case of fractures with displaced bones, the broken bones are repositioned before immobilization to ensure successful healing without deformation and loss of function. The realignment of fractured bone ends is performed through a process called reduction. If the...
Minor fractures with no bone displacement are treated by immobilizing the fractured bone using a cast or splint. However, in the case of fractures with displaced bones, the broken bones are repositioned before immobilization to ensure successful healing without deformation and loss of function. The realignment of fractured bone ends is performed through a process called reduction. If the...
5.8K
01:14Cranial Bones: Superior and Posterior View
7.6K
The superior view of the cranium shows the frontal and paired parietal bones.
The frontal bone is the single bone that forms the forehead. At its anterior midline, between the eyebrows, there is a slight depression called the glabella. The frontal bone also forms the supraorbital margin of the orbit. Near the middle of this margin is the supraorbital foramen, the opening that provides passage for a sensory nerve to the forehead. The frontal bone is thickened just above each supraorbital margin,...
The frontal bone is the single bone that forms the forehead. At its anterior midline, between the eyebrows, there is a slight depression called the glabella. The frontal bone also forms the supraorbital margin of the orbit. Near the middle of this margin is the supraorbital foramen, the opening that provides passage for a sensory nerve to the forehead. The frontal bone is thickened just above each supraorbital margin,...
7.6K