An In vitro study of biomechanical comparison between titanium 4-hole 3D plates and titanium conventional 4-hole miniplates for internal fixation of mandibular angle fractures.

BACKGROUND

Fracture fixation, in the present times, is classically done using mini plates. The position and number of plates to fixate a mandibular angle fracture have been and are still extensively researched and reported in the literature. A more recent addition is 3D mini plates.

AIM

To compare and evaluate the biomechanical behavior of one 2.0 mm titanium 3D miniplate fixation plate (4- hole) and one 2.0 mm titanium 4-hole miniplate in internal fixation of mandibular angle fractures.

OBJECTIVE

To measure load at break, maximum load, and displacement at maximal load for internal fixation done with 3D mini plates and conventional mini plates respectively.

METHODS

Five dry cadaveric mandibles were sectioned into 10 hemi-mandibles. Each cadaveric mandible was sectioned at the angle of mandible to simulate unfavorable mandibular angle fracture. The obtained hemimandible were divided into experimental groups (GROUP 1 and GROUP 2) with 5 samples in each group, plated with a linear miniplate and 3D miniplate respectively. Maximal load, Load at break, and displacement at maximum load were the only obtained parameters for comparison.

RESULTS

Conventional miniplate showed greater mean maximum load values of 174.93 N±54.45 compared to 3D mini plates which recorded a mean maximum load value of 106.96 N ± 23.86. Load at break and displacement at maximum load were found to be both insignificant.

CONCLUSION

The results in this study showed statistically no significant difference with any of the above parameters except maximal load, between the two groups evaluated. Conventional linear miniplate according to Champy's lines of osteosynthesis can be used successfully for providing satisfactory osteosynthesis with the definitive advantage of cost-effectiveness.