Zygomaticomaxillary fracture repair with resorbable plates and screws.

The use of nonmetallic plate and screw fixation composed of a resorbable copolymer of poly L-lactic acid and polyglycolic acid (LactoSorb) for the repair of isolated malar fractures was studied in 53 patients. Other than technique variations in application for screw insertion and plate adaptation, no clinical differences were observed in intraoperative bone stability or postoperative long-term results from prior experience with traditional metal devices. No occurrences of postoperative infection, soft-tissue swelling, or maxillary sinusitis occurred in this series with a 6-month to 2-year follow-up.