Newly Developed Resorbable Magnesium Biomaterials for Orbital Floor Reconstruction in Caprine and Ovine Animal Models—A Prototype Design and Proof-of-Principle Study

Background: orbital floor fractures have not been reconstructed using magnesium biomaterials. Methods: To test technical feasibility, ex vivo caprine and ovine heads (n = 5) were used. Head tissues were harvested from pubescent animals (n = 5; mean age: 3.2 years; mean mass: 26.3 kg) and stored below 11 degrees for 7–10 days. All procedures were performed in a university animal resource facility. Two experienced maxillofacial surgeons performed orbital floor procedures in both orbits of all animals in a step-by-step preplanned dissection. A transconjunctival approach was chosen to repair the orbital floor with three different implants (i.e., magnesium implants; titanium mesh; and polydioxanone or PDO sheets). The position of each implant was evaluated by Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Results: Axial, coronal, and sagittal plane images showed good positioning of the magnesium plates. The magnesium plates had a radiographic visibility similar to that of the PDO sheets but lower than that of the titanium mesh. Conclusions: The prototype design study showed a novel indication for magnesium biomaterials. Further testing of this new biomaterial may lead to the first resorbable biomaterial with good mechanical properties for extensive orbital wall defects.