Facial implants

Implants can now help rebuild faces of children injured in accidents or born with facial defects.

Scientists at Nottingham University and the Institute of Laser and Information Technology in Troitsk, Moscow have developed an implant which they say could help rebuild the faces of children injured in accidents or born with facial defects.

HT Image

According to the BBC, the implants are made of a flexible honeycomb-like material which can easily bond with bone. X-rays and commuter tomography (CT) images are used to create a three-dimensional plastic cast of the damaged area and determine how much bone needs to be removed before creating the implant to fit the space.

Once they have assessed how much bone needs to be removed, scientists "draw" an outline of the implant which is needed by a laser beam which leaves a very fine coating of polymer. This process is repeated hundreds of times until the model is complete.

A mineral-like substance called hydroxyapatite is then added to the PolyHap implants. "Precision is vital in this type of operation since every injury will be unique in some way and the patient is obviously hoping for the best possible visual affect after surgery. Professor Steve Howdle of the university said.