-Report on Experiments and Clinical Cases-

The Use of a Biologically Absorbable Bone Pin Fixation for Nasal Fractures

Takafumi Chin^1,2, Yoshinori Sakata², Shunsuke Amenomori², Yasuhiro Yamamoto² and Hiko Hyakusoku¹

¹Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Nippon Medical School
²Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Nippon Medical School

After repairing a nasal fracture, it is customary to provide postoperative support for the nasal bone with intranasal, antibiotic-soaked gauze packing and an external splint. However, in cases of a skull base fracture with liquorrhea, this procedure is generally contraindicated because of the risk of infection.
To lessen this risk, the authors used a Biologically Absorbable pin which is ultimately absorbed by the body through the natural process of hydrolysis.
An intranasal support was inserted from outside the skin down to the maxilla. The operative results were satisfactory with no postoperative complications such as an inflammatory reaction or an infection.

J Nippon Med Sch 2005; 72: 179-181

Keywords
nasal bone fracture, internal fixation, absorbable pin, liquorrhea, skull base fracture

Correspondence to
Takafumi Chin, Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8603, Japan
chin@peach.plala.or.jp

Received, November 10, 2004
Accepted, December 6, 2004