Orbital wall reconstruction in rabbits using 3D printed polycaprolactone-β-tricalcium phosphate thin membrane

Abstract

Orbital fractures are recognized as one of the most common types of facial bone fractures. Although surgical reconstruction techniques exist as a remedy for such fractures, prolonged complications, such as diplopia and gaze restriction, may still occur. This article proposes a simple technique for facial bone reconstruction though use of a thin-membrane patch made of the polycaprolactone-β-tricalcium phosphate composite material.The application of the proposed technique is described by means of a surgical operation performed on an orbital fracture model of a rabbit taken as a subject. The thin-membrane patch was directly attached onto the fractured bone, and subsequently, microcomputed tomography was employed to assess the progress of fracture healing. Two such assessments were performed, respectively, 8 and 16 weeks after the surgical operation.Results of these assessments reveal a reduction in fracture volume and prevention of undesirable soft-tissue filling in the membrane-patched groups. This indicates that the proposed thin membrane patch is able to secure space for the bones, thereby preventing the occurrence of an inflammatory response.The damaged area, however, was diagnosed to have been slightly filled up and blocked by the presence of unsuitable cells, such as immune cells. In a future study, the authors intend to synthesize thin membranes using alternate biological materials, such as stem cells, to improve the therapeutic result of the proposed technique for orbital fracture treatment.