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Patient-Specific Facial Implants in Polyetheretherketone and Their Stability: A Preliminary Study
Gianmarco Saponaro1, Mattia Todaro, Giorgio Barbera
1From the Maxillo-Facial Surgery Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico Unviersitario "A. Gemelli"-Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore sede di Roma, Rome, Italy.
Annals of Plastic Surgery
|March 28, 2023
Summary
Patient-specific Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) implants show promising bone regrowth in maxillofacial reconstruction. This study indicates PEEK is a viable option for treating facial malformations with no observed complications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Medical Engineering
- Plastic Surgery
Background:
- Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is a synthetic polymer with advantageous properties for medical implants.
- PEEK implants are increasingly utilized in cranioplasty, orthopedic surgery, and facial reconstruction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical outcomes and bone response to patient-specific, computer-designed PEEK onlay implants in maxillofacial surgery.
- To assess the efficacy of PEEK implants for correcting malformative and posttraumatic facial deformities.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 28 patients who received PEEK implants between 2015 and 2020.
- Custom PEEK implants designed using high-resolution CT scans and placed for facial rehabilitation.
- Follow-up included clinical assessment and craniomaxillofacial CT scans for a subset of patients.
Main Results:
- No implant-related complications such as breakdown, exposure, infection, or displacement were reported.
- CT scans of three patients revealed evidence of bone formation around the PEEK implants and within planned perforations.
- Common indications included anterior plagiocephaly, hemifacial microsomia, and post-orthognathic surgery imbalances.
Conclusions:
- Patient-specific PEEK onlay implants are a safe and effective treatment for facial malformations and posttraumatic defects.
- Observed bone regrowth suggests potential for optimizing PEEK implant design for enhanced osseointegration.
- Further multicentric studies are needed to fully understand PEEK's behavior and optimize its application in craniomaxillofacial surgery.
