Purpose: To investigate whether osteosynthesis with biodegradable plates and screws of an unstable part of the zygomatic arch in pigs could provide sufficient fixation for normal bone healing in the area.

Material and Methods: Six healthy pigs were operated under general anesthesia. Two osteotomy lines were created in the right zygomatic arches of the animals leaving the central part of the arch free. This part then was fixated with 2,0 mm Lactosorb® (Walter Lorenz Surgical, Inc., Jacksonville, FL,USA) plates and screws. The left zygomatic arches of the animals were osteotomized in the same fashion but were left without fixation, serving as controls.

Animals were sacrificed at 4,6,8 and 10 weeks. Specimens were evaluated macroscopically, radiographically and histopathologically.

Results: The histopathologic analysis showed that 4 of 6 fixated specimens from the experimental site demonstrated lack of callus formation and bone continuity.

Conclusion: These results indicate that biodegradable osteosynthesis in load bearing areas of the middle third of the facial skeleton provides most likely no sufficient fixation for callus formation and bone healing.