Re: Flood et al. Randomized prospective study of the influence of steroids on postoperative eye-opening after exploration

Utility of high density porous polyethylene implants in maxillofacial surgery

The aim of this paper was to determine the utility of high density porous polyethylene implants (HDPE) in a variety of facial skeletal deformities. Sixteen patients (age range 14-28 years) with facial deformities requiring skeletal defect reconstruction or augmentation, treated between January 2008 and December 2010. The follow-up of the patients ranged from 6 months to 2 years.The types of deformities and defects treated include: one patient each with hemifacial microsomia and nasal tip correction, two patients each with malar deformities and orbital floor reconstruction, three patients with paranasal deformities and mandibular hypoplasia and four patients with chin augmentation. A total of 24 implants were placed. The complications included infection and wound dehiscence in one patient. The implants were palpable extraorally in two patients. It is concluded that HDPE is an excellent alternative to autogenous grafts for facial skeletal augmentation. Its porous nature, excellent soft tissue growth and coverage are the advantages and disadvantages include its rigidity and sometimes it is palpable extraorally.

Efficacy of Iliac Crest vs. Medpor in Orbital Floor Reconstruction

AIM

The present study is to compare the effectiveness of iliac crest graft and medpor implant, for repairing traumatic orbital floor defects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 20 patients were included in the study. Autogenous iliac crest graft and medpor implant was used in 10 patients of the each group. Patients were evaluated for the presence or absence of diplopia, enophthalmos, infraorbital nerve paresthesia, and ocular motility disorders. Surgical indications for orbital exploration included entrapment of orbital tissues, large orbital defect (greater than 50% of the orbital floor or more than 8 mm), or orbital floor defects with involvement of other zygomaticofrontal complex fractures.

RESULTS

All patients were successfully treated by restoration of the orbital wall continuity. Follow-up was done at 1-12 weeks. One patient had postoperative infection. There was no graft extrusion.

CONCLUSIONS

Both the groups showed satisfactory results, but group II was better than group I, as there was no donor site morbidity. Porous polyethylene (Medpor) is a biocompatible and high-density polyethylene implant. It is well tolerated by surrounding tissue, and its porous structure is rapidly infiltrated by host tissue. It is a highly stable and somewhat flexible porous alloplast that has rapid tissue in growth into its pores.