Fronto-nasal cranioplasty using polymethylmethracylate - case report

Abstract

Patients who present a background of bone defects seek for harmonic facial contours through surgical rehabilitation. To facilitate the maxillofacial reconstruction, there are two groups of grafts that can be used: the bone and alloplastic materials, such as the polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), which is one of the alloplastic materials usually used by surgeons in facial rehabilitation. The aim of this study is to present a clinical report about a frontal cranioplasty using PMMA and compare its use with other materials in the literature. A male patient, 35 years old, ASA I, had a motorcycle accident, and a physical examination showed a sinking in the frontal region, deviation of right nasal dorsum and restriction of air passage through the left nostril. At the imaging examination, it was found suggestive signs of naso-orbit-ethmoid fracture and external table fracture in the middle region of the frontal bone. The patient was submitted to a surgical procedure for reconstruction of bone defect and a PMMA graft was used in the frontal bone region. PMMA is usually used because of its ease of adaptation to the bone, reduction of time of the surgery and decrease of blood loss and possibility of infection. PMMA is an attractive alternative for maxillofacial reconstructions.