In reply
The MEDPOR Implant product insert advocates the modification of our implant material with the use of surgical scissors and/or scalpels. Surgical screws, wire, or suture are recommended for implant fixation, as described in the product insert. We do not encourage, recommend, or advocate the use of cautery devices to shape or fixate the product. Polyethylene, by its nature, as well as most other polymers, could melt or ignite when placed in contact with a high-temperature source such as a cautery.The authors refer, without cited references, to a common practice of thermally bonding a competitive nylon material to the orbital rim. In reviewing a material safety data sheet for nylon, the ignition point of nylon is 400°C. Although this critical point is higher than that of our material, it appears that the same type of incident could occur when a 1200°C cautery is used.A review of cautery