In the past, materials used for repairing the orbit mainly included autologous bone, hydroxyapatite, bioactive glass, and silicone, but they all had varying degrees of defects and were prone to complications such as displacement and infection. In the early 1990s, titanium alloys began to be used for the repair of orbital wall fractures and defects, and were highly favored due to their excellent properties.

The advantages of titanium alloy as an orbital repair material

1. Good biocompatibility

The surface of titanium alloy has a dense inert oxide film, which gives titanium alloy good biocompatibility and can reduce the probability of infection after implantation in the human body.

2. Lightweight

Titanium alloy has high strength and light weight. After implantation into the human body, it can reduce the burden on the body and also alleviate the workload of medical personnel.

3. Low elastic modulus

Titanium alloy has the closest elastic modulus to the natural skeleton of the human body and excellent wear and corrosion resistance. It can be processed to form a shape that matches the edge of the bone defect, and is not easy to loosen after healing.

4. Easy for re examination

Titanium alloy is non-magnetic and has little effect on CT, MRI and other scans. It has good imaging quality and is convenient for postoperative follow-up.

The Problems of Titanium Alloy as Orbital Repair Material

Since the first successful application of titanium mesh in orbital repair in 1990, titanium mesh has been used as a filling and internal fixation material for the repair of orbital wall and floor defects. However, the irregular shape and smooth surface of the titanium mesh are easily wrapped by fibrous tissue, which may promote the high-density distribution and adhesion of inflammatory cells, and may cause dissolution of adjacent bone.

Due to the sharp edges and certain hardness of the titanium mesh, when the surgical incision is small, the titanium mesh is easily obstructed by surrounding tissues, making it difficult to insert into the predetermined position. During the insertion process, it may even cause iatrogenic damage. In addition, due to the thin titanium mesh, it is unable to correct the eyeball retraction that is prone to occur in the later stage of orbital and mid facial fractures.

The structure of the orbit is too complex, and although there have been many studies dedicated to repairing orbital fractures and defects in recent years, the most ideal repair standards have not yet been achieved. With the rapid development of medical technology, I believe this difficult problem will definitely be overcome!