Reconstruction of orbital wall fenestrations with polyglactin 910 film

Medial orbital wall fenestrations were created bilaterally in 16 adult cats. The fenestrations were reconstructed with polyglactin 910 film, Dacron-reinforced silicone sheeting, or no implant. Polyglactin 910 was found to be well tolerated in this traumatized area of paranasal sinus bone and soft tissue and was totally absorbed in 4 months. Dacron-reinforced silicone sheeting induced a long-standing acute inflammatory reaction in a similar milieu. Partial osseus replacement of the orbital fenestrations occurred in all animals, but it was accompanied by distortion and erosion in apposition to the silicone sheeting. The study does not answer the question of whether orbital contour will be maintained on a long-term basis adjacent to a pneumatized sinus following reconstruction with a bioabsorbable implant.