Injectable Silastic in Deformities of the Facial Skeleton

Abstract

DISFIGUREMENT of the facial skeleton by trauma, neoplasms, and congenital deformities has been treated by autografts or homografts of bone or cartilage and by allografts of firm or spongy synthetic media. The end results of the homografts and alloplastic materials have been inconsistent and not always completely acceptable. Reconstructive surgery of the facial bones necessitates implants close to a mobile surface. Implanted material is easily subjected to trauma and frequently requires large external incisions and wide dissections for placement which makes retention difficult and errors easily observable. Because of the time involved in obtaining autogenous bone or cartilage and occasional rejection, resorption or distortion of the various materials, efforts have been made for decades to restore moderate defects or modest alterations of contour by injection of a foreign material in place of an open operative procedure. Experimental and clinical trials of injectable material have included autogenous, homogenous, heterogenous as well