Aims:The present study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of biodegradable plating system for fixation of maxillofacial fractures and to study the morbidity associated with the use of biodegradable plates and screws.Materials and Methods:This prospective study consisted of 10 patients with maxillofacial fractures requiring open reduction and internal fixation. Fractures with infection, comminuted and pathological fractures were excluded. All were plated with biodegradable system (Inion CPS) using standard plating principles and observed for a total period of 24 weeks. Characteristics of the fractures, ease of use of bioresorbable plate/screw system and post operative complications were assessed.Results:Of total 10 patients, eight patients were of midface fracture and two pediatric patients with mandibular fracture, with nine male and one female. The mean age was 32.8 years. Out of 20 plates and 68 screws applied to the 10 fractures sites; there were three incidences of screw breakage with no other intraoperative difficulties. Paresthesia of the infraorbital nerve was present in two patients, and recovered completely in four weeks after surgery. Fracture reduction was considered to be satisfactory in all cases. One patient developed postsurgical infection and was managed with oral antibiotics and analgesics.Conclusions:Favorable healing can be observed through the use of biodegradable plates and screws to stabilize selected midface fractures in patients of all ages, as well as mandible fractures in early childhood, however further studies with more sample size are required.

The use of bioresorbable fixation systems has been gaining fast momentum in contemporary maxillofacial traumatology. While indications continue to expand with improvements in strength and profiles of these implants, undesirable events, including localised sterile abscesses and osteolytic changes, have been reported during degradation of these products. We report a case of a fracture of paediatric mandiblular angle managed with bioresorbable fixation that showed significant bone resorption adjacent to the fixation site 18 months post‐operatively.

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Odontomas are considered to be hamartomatous malformations rather than tumours. Compound odontomas are mostly found in anterior maxilla and complex odontomas are more prevalent in posterior mandible. Although the pathology is benign, early intervention is required to avoid the subsequent complications and ensure a better prognosis. Two case reports are presented where compound odontomas were associated with impacted teeth. In the first case, an unusually giant odontome caused impaction of both central and lateral incisor. Combined surgical and orthodontic treatment was required for eruption of central incisor whereas lateral incisor erupted after surgical exposure. In the second case surgical removal of the odontome and exposure of the incisal edge led to eruption of the impacted incisor.