M. Ninkovic, A. Rumer, A. Kofler*

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Innsbruck, University Innsbruck, Austria


Biodegradable miniplates and screws offer several advantages over titanium plate and screw bone fixation. Titanium plates can corrode, migrate and are often palpable in areas of thin soft tissue coverage. Additionally, metallic devices are usually removed after osteotomy has consolidated, which often requires general anaesthesia. Titanium plates, supposed to be biotolerable, have been introduced in order to overcome this need for secondary intervention. However, due to corrosion, titamium particles have been found in scar tissue covering these plates and in locoregional lymphnodes. Therefore, their removal is also advocated.

Biodegradable self reinforced poly-L-lactide (SR-PLLA) miniplates and screws were used for osteosynthesis in four consecutive cases of cranial remodeling. None of the plates broke and were of sufficient strength to provide stable bone fixation and there are no needs for additional support. The surgical technique and early results of four cases using SR-PLLA biodegradable plates and screws are reported.