Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 15, 2025
Treatment of Facial Deformities using 3D Planning and Printing of Patient-Specific Implants
Published on: May 23, 2020
Examining the Relationship Between Wound Complications and the Use of Resorbable Plates in Cranial Vault
Frank O F Reilly1, Susan Clinton1, Paul Dillon2
1National Pediatric Craniofacial Center, Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street.
Insights
Resorbable plates in pediatric cranial reconstruction had a 12.1% wound complication rate. Factors like older age and lower weight increased risk in non-syndromic patients, suggesting careful consideration for these cases.
Area of Science:
- Craniofacial Surgery
- Pediatric Surgery
- Biomaterials Science
Background:
- Resorbable plates are frequently used in cranial vault reconstruction.
- Limited data exists on the safety profile of these devices.
- This study investigates wound complications associated with resorbable plates in pediatric patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of wound complications after cranial vault reconstruction using resorbable plates (Inion CPS Fixation System).
- To identify patient and surgical factors associated with wound complications.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 182 pediatric patients who underwent cranial vault reconstruction with resorbable plates.
- Data collected from a prospectively maintained database and medical records.
- Analysis of patient demographics, surgical variables, and wound complication rates.
Main Results:
- A 12.1% (22/182) overall postoperative wound complication rate requiring hospital admission was observed.
- Remnants of plates were removed in 2.73% (5/182) of patients requiring reoperation.
- Univariate analysis showed females were more prone to complications; however, in nonsyndromic patients, increased age and lower weight were significant risk factors.
Conclusions:
- The Inion CPS Fixation System demonstrated a 12.1% wound complication rate in pediatric cranial vault reconstruction.
- The safety profile appears comparable to other fixation devices.
- Age and weight are critical factors influencing wound complication risk in nonsyndromic pediatric patients.
Background:
Resorbable plates are commonly used in cranial vault reconstruction surgery. There are few published papers examining their safety profile. The authors examined the prevalence of wound complications associated with the use of resorbable plates (Inion CPS Fixation System) in pediatric patients undergoing cranial vault reconstruction.
Methods:
A retrospective review of patients (n = 182) who underwent cranial vault reconstruction using resorbable plate fixation was undertaken. All procedures were performed by a single Craniofacial Surgeon at the National Pediatric Craniofacial Center from 2008 to 2016. Wound complications were identified from a prospectively maintained database and medical note review. Several key patient characteristics and surgical variables were also recorded and tested for associations with wound complications.
Results:
A total of 58.8% (107 of 182) of patients were male with a median age at surgery of 16.2 months. Overall, 12.1% (22 of 182) experienced a postoperative wound complication requiring hospital admission. A total of 2.73% (5 of 182) of the patients that returned to theatre had remnants of plates removed. The authors had a mean time from primary operation to secondary reoperation of 103 days. In univariate statistical analysis, females were more likely to develop a wound complication. However, in stratified analyses excluding patients with an underlying genetic syndrome, increasing age, and lower weight but not gender were associated with wound complications.
Conclusions:
A 12.1% (22 of 182) wound complication rate with the use of the Inion CPS Fixation System was observed. Inion plates appear to have an equivalent safety profile to other fixation devices. Increasing age and lower weight were associated with an increased risk of wound complications in nonsyndromic patients.
