Advances in materials research related to orbital reconstruction: A review

Orbital injuries or defects caused by various reasons are quite common, such as violent trauma or tumors. If the damaged orbits are not treated in a timely manner and the normal orbital structure cannot be restored, it may lead to ocular nerve injury, embedding or protrusion of orbital contents, and complications such as enophthalmos, diplopia, and eye movement disorders. Therefore, it is particularly important to repair orbital injuries or defects and reconstruct the normal structure of the orbit. Currently, there are various types of implants applied to reconstruct the orbit, which can be categorized as homogeneous and heterogeneous. Homogeneous materials are categorized as autologous and allogeneic, while heterogeneous materials are categorized into two main groups, absorbable and nonabsorbable materials. Ideal biomaterials for craniofacial fracture reconstruction must fulfill certain criteria such as biocompatibility, stability, safety, intraoperative adjustability, and low cost. This article provides a review of the advantages and shortcomings of various implants commonly used and the future direction of implant development.