Are Alloplastic Implants Safe in Rhinoplasty?

Complications associated with alloplastic implants in rhinoplasty.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the incidence of infection and extrusion of porous high-density polyethylene (pHDPE) and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) implants used in rhinoplasty at a high-volume, academic facial plastic surgery practice. METHODS A total of 662 rhinoplasty procedures performed by 3 faculty surgeons from 1999 to 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. Patient demographics, medic...

Problems Associated with Alloplastic Materials in Rhinoplasty

PURPOSE Augmentation rhinoplasty using alloplastic materials is a relatively common procedure among Asians. Silicon, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (Gore-tex®), and porous high density polyethylene (Medpor®) are most frequently used materials. This study was conducted to analyze revisional rhinoplasty cases with alloplastic materials, and to investigate the usage of alloplastic materials and ...

How safe are metal-on-metal hip implants?

Hundreds of thousands of patients around the world may have been exposed to toxic substances after being implanted with poorly regulated and potentially dangerous hip devices, a BMJ/ BBC Newsnight investigation reveals this week. Despite the fact that these risks have been known and well documented for decades, patients have been kept in the dark about their participation in what has effectivel...

Delayed Orbital Hemorrhage around Alloplastic Implants after Blowout Fracture Reduction

Alloplastic implants have been used to repair orbital wall fractures in most cases. Orbital hemorrhage is a rare complication of these implants and has been reported rarely in Korea. The purpose of this article is to report a late complication case focusing on their etiology and management. A 20-year-old male patient underwent open reduction with Medpor (porous polyethylene) insertion for bilat...

Are we really in safe hands? How safe is safe?