Fixation of mandibular body osteotomies using biodegradable amorphous self-reinforced (70L:30DL) polylactide or metal lag screws: an experimental study in sheep

• Published in: Journal of cranio-maxillo-facial surgery Vol. 27; no. 2; pp. 124 - 133
• Main Authors: Kallela, Ilkka, Tulamo, Riita-Mari, Hietanen, Jarkko, Pohjonen, Timo, Suuronen, Riitta, Lindqvist, Christian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.04.1999; Elsevier
• Subjects: Absorbable Implants; Alloys - chemistry; Animals; Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological and medical sciences; Bone Remodeling; Bone Screws; Bony Callus - diagnostic imaging; Bony Callus - pathology; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Giant Cells, Foreign-Body - pathology; Head and neck surgery. Maxillofacial surgery. Dental surgery. Orthodontics; Mandible - diagnostic imaging; Mandible - pathology; Mandible - surgery; Maxillofacial surgery. Dental surgery. Orthodontics; Medical sciences; Microradiography; Osteogenesis; Osteotomy - instrumentation; Osteotomy - methods; Pilot Projects; Polyesters - chemistry; Sheep; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Technology. Biomaterials. Equipments; Wound Healing; Mandible; Biodegradability; Osteotomy; Metal; Experimental study; Reaction; Result; Tissue; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Fixation; Treatment; Screw; Surgery; Animal; Sheep; Biomaterial; Artiodactyla; Technique; Cicatrization; Ungulata
• ISSN: 1010-5182; 1878-4119
• DOI: 10.1016/S1010-5182(99)80026-2

Mandibular body osteotomies were fixed in nine sheep using new totally amorphous (70L:30DL), self-reinforced, polylactide (SR-PLA) lag screws and in nine sheep using standard stainless steel lag screws. No intermaxillary fixation was used. During follow-up, radiological, histological and microradiological studies were undertaken at 3, 6, 12 and 24 weeks. In both groups, all osteotomies consolidated at similar rates and no adverse reaction to the screws was seen. However, displacements of the fixed osteotomy fragments were common in both groups during the first 3 weeks. The biocompatibility of SR-PLA during the follow-up period was found to be good. Only initial signs of biodegradation were seen. The results of this study indicate that (70L:30DL) SR-PLA has potential for use as a fixation screw material in oral and maxillofacial surgery, and that further studies using this material are justified.