Morphometric analysis of the effects of LactoSorb bioabsorbable plates on the craniofacial growth of rabbits using computed tomography.

This study investigated the effect of bioabsorbable plates and titanium microscrews on the growth of the craniofacial skeleton of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in the neonatal period. All animals underwent surgery at seven weeks of age and were killed at twenty-four weeks. In the study group, LactoSorb plate and PROMM titanium microscrews were positioned across the coronal suture. In the control group, only PROMM titanium microscrews were attached to the cranium. Computed tomography was used to obtain morphometric measurements of volume. Results showed no significant intergroup (P < or = 0.05) or intragroup (control group P < or = 0.01; study group P < or = 0.05) differences in craniofacial volume. Under the experimental conditions of this study, bioabsorbable plates did not affect neonatal growth of craniofacial volume in rabbits.