Facial fracture patients are seen in a Level 1 trauma hospital. In our institution, we manage many patients with facial fractures and carry out more than 150 surgical procedures every year. Open reduction and internal fixation is our management of choice. All surgical procedures involve drilling of bone and implant insertion to keep the fractured bones in an anatomically reduced position to aid healing. Occasionally, drill bits used to create the pilot hole break and are embedded in the bone. We present a situation in which such an incident occurred and review the literature on retained broken implants and devices.
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8.
SteinemannSMetal for craniomaxillofacial internal fixation implants and its physiologic implications In: GreenbergAPreinJ, eds. Craniomaxillofacial Reconstructive and Corrective Bone SurgeryNew York, NYSpringer2006107–12
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JochumRMReichartPAInfluence of multiple use of Timedur-titanium cannon drills: thermal response and scanning electron microscopic findingsClin Oral Implants Res2000112139–143
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PleckoMSievertCAndermattD, et al. Osseointegration and biocompatibility of different metal implants–a comparative experimental investigation in sheepBMC Musculoskelet Disord20121332
