• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.458-464
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• 2011

Purpose: Metacarpal fractures are common hand injury that may require operative intervention to ensure adequate reduction and stabilization. Traditionally, titanium miniplate was used for rigid fixation of bone fractures. However, the use of permanent plate lends itself to multiple complications such as infection, exposure of the hardware, tendon adhesions, tendon rupture, prolonged pain, bony atrophy and osteoporosis (stress shielding), metal sensitization, and palpation under the skin. This study evaluated the usefulness and stability of biodegradable plates and screws for treatment of metacarpal bone fractures. Methods: There was 17 patients who had surgery for metacarpal bone fracture from April 2007 to June 2010. All patients had open reduction and internal fixation. We used absorbable plates and screws (Inion CPS$^{(R)}$) for internal fixation. Postoperative results were assessed with x-ray. Stability of plates and screws, healing process and its complications were observed by clinical and radiographic assessment. Results: All patients were successfully reduced of bone fracture, and fixations with absorbable plates and screws were stable. The mean follow up period was 7.1 months. 2 patients complained postoperative pain, but they were relieved with analgesics. All patients experienced transient stiffness, but they were relieved with active assistive range of motion after removal of splint. No patients suffered complications which could be occurred by using metallic plate. Conclusion: There was no critical complications such as re-fracture or nonunion among patients. No patients suffered side effects related with metallic implants. Biodegradable implants can offer clinically stable and attractive alternative to metallic implants to stabilize metacarpal bone fractures in the hand.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.23-26
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• 2003

Solid-state extrusion technique was employed for the improvement of mechanical properties of polylactic acid (PLLA) widely used as biodegradable internal fixation devices currently. Cylindrical billets were machined out from the vacuum compression-molded PLLA to have various diameters, and solid-state extrusion of the billets was performed at various drawing rates and at the extrusion temperature of $130^{\circ}C$. Throughout the whole processes the decrease in molecular weight was significantly suppressed to be about $10\%$. Flexural modulus and strength of PLLA increased up to 8.3 GPa and 221 MPa, respectively. Studies on the orientation and crystallinity of extruded PLLA could reveal the effects of billet morphology, draw ratio, and drawing rate on the flexural strengths of PLLA.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.131-134
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• 2010

Inappropriate treatment of osteochondral fracture can cause osteoarthritis, pain, functional disorder. With large osteochondral fracture, reduction and fixation of the fragment using metal implant. However, when the bone fragment had less than 2mm, the fragment extracted because of difficulty of fragment fixation. Authors treated patients with fracture fragment thickness less than 2mm of osteochondral dissecans in medial femoral condyle and patella fracture using biodegradable meniscus screw, and then we obtained good result.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.182-190
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• 2008

Fracture of mandible is the most frequent fracture among many types of maxillofacial fracture, and reduction of mandible fracture is performed using various methods of treatment to maintain bonding strength of fractured bone. Among these treatment of bone fracture, a semirigid fixation method which can reduce the period of intermaxillary fixation using metal mini plate under general or local anesthesia is spotlighted these days. The metal mini plate used during this semirigid fixation procedure is Titanium which is bio-inactive one and was used widely, but because the side effect of fracture reduction using titanium have been demonstrated recently, fracture reduction using biodegradable plate become to attract people's attention. The purpose of this study was to report the clinical case and review of the literature with the reduction of mandible fracture using biodegradable plate.

• The Academic Congress of Korean Shoulder and Elbow Society
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• 2008.03a
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• pp.94-94
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• 2008

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.45-50
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• 2008

Purpose: Traditionally, titanium miniplate has been used for rigid fixation of mandible fractures. However, the limitations of metal plate have been reported such as hypersensitivity, interference with the cranio-facial growth of growing child, secondary bone resorption around the plate, foreign body reaction, declination of primary callus formation, and bone atrophy, and so forth. Recently, biodegradable miniplate has been introduced and used as an alternative to the metal plate despite of its lower strength. This study evaluated the usefulness and stability of biodegradable plate and screw for treatment of mandible fractures. Methods: In this study, 61 patients(92 areas) diagnosed as mandible fracture in the last 2 years have been reviewed. We used titanium plate and screw in 32 patients, and biodegradable plate and screw($INION^{(R)}$) in 29 patients. Stability of plates and screws, bony healing process and its side effects were observed by clinical and radiographic assessment. Results: In the titanium material group, one of malocclusion, two of mouth opening limitation, three of pain, three of palpation were shown. The plate of six patients involved in these complications were removed. In the biodegradable group, two of mouth opening limitation, two of pain, one of localized wound infection were shown and one plate was removed secondarily. Conclusion: There was no statistical difference between two groups in bony healing and complication rates. Biodegradable implants show efficient stability during initial bone healing and low side effects in long-term follow up periods.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.158-164
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• 2008

Purpose: We compared the results of arthroscopic Bankart repair using metal and biodegradable anchor fixation. Materials & Methods: We reviewed 26 patients with anterior shoulder instability treated by arthroscopic Bankart repair from October, 2006, to March, 2007, 15 patients with metal anchors and 11 patients with biodegradable anchors. The average age was 27.4 years old (range: 17~55) and mean follow-up was 14 months (range: 12~17 months). Functional outcome was evaluated using the Korean Shoulder Score for Instability (KSSI), Rowe's Bankart Grading scale (RBGS), ASES score, and UCLA scores. Results: In the metal-anchor group, the improvements of mean KSSI, ASES, UCLA score, and RBGS were 20.6, 24.0, 4.0, and 45.5, respectively. In the biodegradable anchor group, improvements of mean KSSI, ASES, UCLA score, and RBGS were 21.0, 23.6, 4.6, and 48.9. The improvements in final outcomes were not significantly different (p>.05). One metal problem and one traumatic redislocation occurred in the metal group. Conclusion: Both techniques produced satisfactory outcomes in the treatment of traumatic anterior instability. The biodegradable anchor group could also avoid problems with metal anchors.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.626-630
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• 1998

Ammonium limitation did not promote ply(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) production of Azotobacter vinelandii UWD. In acid phase, ammonium limitation during utilization of propionic acid and butyric acid led to 35% decrease in product yield. In glucose phase, both biomass yield and polymer yield decreased about 22% under ammonium limitation. However, in nitrogen-fixing culture glucose was consumed 25% faster and the final PHBV wt% decreased slightly. Under nitrogen limitation a portion of the carbon sources was used fro nitrogen fixation rather than biomass and polymer formation, resulting in a decrease in biomass yield and polymer yield.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2016

Absorbable plates are used widely for fixation of facial bone fractures. Compared to conventional titanium plating systems, absorbable plates have many favorable traits. They are not palpable after plate absorption, which obviates the need for plate removal. Absorbable plate-related infections are relatively uncommon at less than 5% of patients undergoing fixation of facial bone fractures. The plates are made from a mixture of poly-L-lactic acid and poly-DL-lactic acid or poly-DL-lactic acid and polyglycolic acid, and the ratio of these biodegradable polymers is used to control the longevity of the plates. Degradation rate of absorbable plate is closely related to the chance of infection. Low degradation is associated with increased accumulation of plate debris, which in turn can increase the chance of infection. Predisposing factors for absorbable plate-related infection include the presence of maxillary sinusitis, plate proximity to incision site, and use of tobacco and significant amount of alcohol. Using short screws in fixating maxillary fracture accompanied maxillary sinusitis will increase the rate of infection. Avoiding fixating plates near the incision site will also minimize infection. Close observation until complete absorption of the plate is crucial, especially those who are smokers or heavy alcoholics. The management of plate infection is varied depending on the clinical situation. Severe infections require plate removal. Wound culture and radiologic exam are essential in treatment planning.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.207-217
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the stress distribution and displacement in mandible according to treatment modalities of mandibular angle fractures, using a three dimensional finite element analysis. A mechanical model of an edentulous mandible was generated from 3D scan. A 100-N axial load and four masticatory muscular supporting system were applied to this model. According to the number, location and materials of titanium and biodegradable polymer plates, the experimental groups were divided into five types. Type I had a single titanium plate in the superior border of mandibular angle, type II had two titanium plates in the superior tension border and in the inferior compression border of mandibular angle, type III had a single titanium plate in the ventral area of mandibular angle, type IV had a single biodegradable polymer plate in the superior border of mandibular angle, type V had a single biodegradable polymer plate in the ventral area of mandibular angle. The results obtained from this study were follows: 1. Stress was concentrated on the condylar neck of the fractured side except Type III. 2. The values of von-Mises stress of the screws were the highest in the just-posterior screw of the fracture line, and in the just-anterior screw of Type III. 3. The displacement of mandible in Type III was 0.04 mm, and in Type I, II, IV, and V were 0.10 mm. 4. The plates were the most stable in the ventral area of mandibular angle (Type III, V). In conclusion, the ventral area of mandibular angle is the most stable location in the fixation of mandibular angle fractures, and the just- posterior and/or the just-anterior screws of the fracture line must be longer than the other, and surgeons have to fix accurately these screws, and the biodegradable polymer plate also was suitable for the treatment of mandible angle fracture.