Clinical and Patient Satisfaction Outcomes from Southern Osseointegrated Fixtures for Craniofacial Reconstruction: A Retrospective Study

This study reports the clinical outcomes from using Southern osseointegrated fixtures (SOFs) for retention of auricular, nasal, and orbital silicone prosthetics. Osseointegrated implants are widely used in the craniofacial skeleton, but data specific to the use of SOFs are more limited. A retrospective review was conducted of 16 patients who underwent implantation of SOFs between 2013 and 2024 at a large London teaching hospital. Data were collected from Electronic Patient Records and post-implantation surveys to assess patient satisfaction, prosthesis use, and complication rates. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to evaluate implant success, complications, and patient-reported outcomes (PROMS). A total of 58 implants were reviewed, with an average follow-up of 56 months. Implant retention was 82.76%; 10 implants failed to osseointegrate, predominantly in patients treated with radiotherapy to the underlying bone. The most common complications were over-granulation (8 implants), abutment or superstructure loosening (5 implants), and infection (4 implants). Of the 10 patients who completed a satisfaction survey, 8 were wearing at least one prosthesis daily, and all reported that their prosthetics were highly stable with an average satisfaction score of 4.88/5. Aesthetic outcomes were also high at 4.63/5. In this cohort, SOFs provided stable and effective fixation for craniofacial prosthetics, resulting in high patient satisfaction. Complications were generally infrequent and manageable, although implant failure in irradiated bone remains problematic.