Orbital floor reconstruction using prebent titanium mesh or polyetheretherketone patient-specific implant: Comparative study

Abstract

Purpose This study was planned to compare between polyetheretherketone patient-specific implant and prebent titanium mesh in orbital floor reconstruction. Patients and methods Twelve patients with unilateral orbital floor fracture indicated for reconstruction divided in two equal groups according to the type of implant used. Postoperative evaluation was done for 6 months. Patients of both groups were examined clinically for hypoglobus, enophthalmos, ocular motility and diplopia and radiographically for orbital volume measurement preoperatively and postoperatively. A comparative analysis of the treatment outcomes was performed. Results Significant improvement in the external appearance of the eye including hypoglobus, enophthalmos, and ocular motility and diplopia although group II showed one (16.7%) patient with persistent hypoglobus, one (16.7%) patient measured as grade 3 enophthalmos (>2 mm), one (16.7%) patient with marked limitation of ocular motility (grade 3) and diplopia. There was significant improvement in the orbital volume of the affected side in both groups with no significant difference postoperatively between both groups during different follow up periods. There was significant difference between the orbital volume of the affected and nonaffected sides preoperatively and the difference between them was 3.91 ± 0.92 cm3 for group I and 3.64 ± 1.29 cm3 for group II which markedly decreased postoperatively was 0.50 ± 0.72 cm3 for group I and 1.35 ± 0.86 cm3 for group II with no significant difference between affected and nonaffected eyes. Conclusion The results of this study showed that polyetheretherketone patient-specific implant is precise, predictable, and demonstrated higher clinical efficacy in comparison to prebent titanium mesh in orbital floor reconstruction. Preformed prebent titanium mesh is not preferred in large defects.