Fixation of facial and auricular prosthesis with osseous implants in cranial bone

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of osseointegrated implants to fix facial and auricular prostheses. DESIGN: Retrospective. SETTING: University Hospital Groningen, the Netherlands. METHODS: Thirty patients were treated with Br?nemark implants for fixation of auricular (21 patients) and orbital (9 patients) prostheses during May 1988-December 1995. The complications during the procedure, the success rate of the implants, skin reactions around the implants and patient satisfaction were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 97 implants were placed. One implant had to be removed after the healing period because it was loose. No other implants were lost during the follow-up period (mean 36 months; range: 12-91). The skin around the implants sometimes showed a mild reaction which could be adequately treated. In most of the cases no inflammation of the skin was observed. Retention, ease of handling and wearing comfort of the facial prostheses were excellent. CONCLUSION: Fixation of facial and auricular prostheses can be improved by osseointegrated implants resulting in high patient satisfaction.