Hydroxyapatite-Polyethylene Composite in Orbital Surgery

The orbital surgeon has a wide variety of materials both synthetic and autogenous currently at his disposal for use in the treatment of traumatized and volume deficient sockets. This range of materials attests to the limitations of all currently available orbital implants. Hydroxyapatite reinforced polyethylene composite offers potential advantages to the surgeon as a relatively strong modulus matched biocompatible material. Subperiosteal orbital floor implants are employed in the correction of volume deficient sockets and in orbital floor reconstruction following trauma. To evaluate the potential applications of this novel bone composite in orbital surgery, pre-formed implants in seven patients with volume deficient sockets and two patients with traumatized sockets have been studied.