Biodegradable versus titanium plates and screws for paediatric facial skeleton fractures

The use of biodegradable materials represents a new option in the treatment of paediatric facial skeleton fractures. The benefits of a resorbable system include reductions in time for long-term stability, diminished immobilisation period, and elimination of painful procedures for implant removal. The resorption of the material did not influence bone repair and growth. Bioresorbable plates and screws get completely excreted through physiological routes.

The age of the patients ranges from that of pre-schoolers till 18 years. The mean age of boys and girls was 12.18 (range 4-18 years) and 13.59 (range 5-18 years), respectively.

During the ten-year period, 168 children and adolescents, 136 boys and 32 girls, were treated. The conservative treatment was performed in 67 patients (39.9 %). Open surgical reduction was performed in 101 patients (60.1 %). Bioresorbable plates were applied in 44 patients (43.6 % of surgically treated).

The implementation of biodegradable osteosynthetic materials is optimal for the treatment of fractures of the middle third of the facial skeleton, lower part of the upper third of the facial skeleton, mandibular body and parasymphysis (Tab. 3, Fig. 3, Ref. 31).