ABSTRACT
The objective of craniofacial surgery is to treat patients presenting with congenital and acquired deformities (resulting from birth defects, trauma, or tumor surgery) affecting the hard and soft tissues of the head and face. The best possible functional and aesthetic outcome is essential for the successful reintegration of these individuals. In cases of extensive soft tissue and bone loss, surgery to repair missing structures using the patients’ own local tissue does not always obtain the desired results. The increasing knowledge and safety of microsurgical procedures has opened new
14.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 321 14.2 Internal Fixation ........................................................................................... 322
14.2.1 Metallic Implants .............................................................................. 322 14.2.1.1 Titanium and Titanium Alloys ........................................... 322
14.2.2 Resorbable Plating Systems .............................................................. 326 14.3 Bone Substitutes ........................................................................................... 328
14.3.1 Metallic Mesh and Implant ............................................................... 328 14.3.2 Autologous Bone Grafts ................................................................... 329 14.3.3 Bone Allografts ................................................................................ 331 14.3.4 Cartilage Allograft ........................................................................... 331 14.3.5 Bone Xenograft ................................................................................. 332 14.3.6 Demineralized Bone Matrix ............................................................. 332 14.3.7 Synthetic Bone Graft Substitutes ...................................................... 333
14.3.7.1 Acrylates ............................................................................ 333 14.3.7.2 Ceramics ............................................................................ 335 14.3.7.3 Polymers............................................................................. 337
14.4 Custom-Made Implants ................................................................................ 339 14.5 Blood-Derived Biomaterials .........................................................................340
