Is Open Reduction Internal Fixation Using Titanium Plates in the Mandible as Successful as We Think?

ABSTRACT: Titanium plats are the gold-standard for fracture fixation. Titanium is considered biocompatible, corrosion resistant with an elasticity-modulus closest to bone. Nonetheless, titanium plates are not always as inherent as hoped. The authors investigated morbidity associated with titanium plates in mandibular fractures. A retrospective study of mandibular fractures treated between 2000 and 2018 using internal-fixation was conducted. Data included age, gender, complications, and location. Predictor-variable was location. Outcome-variable was plate removal. A total of 571 patients were included, 107 resulted in plate removal (18.7%). Body was the most prevalent location of fracture (29.3%). Symphysis/para-sym-physis showed the highest removal rate (24.1%), followed by body and angle (21.3/19.8%). A total of 23.4% of double-plating cases resulted in plate removal, upper-border in 15% and lower-border in 8.8%, all reconstruction-plates. Exposure was the most frequent complication leading to removal. Although titanium plates are the gold standard, almost every fifth patient returns for plate removal. Age-distribution emphasizing 41 to 50 with decrease towards extremities may imply better healing in the young and soft-tissue elasticity and less complaints in the elderly. Significantly more complications in double-plating compared to lower border suggests proximity to the oral-cavity as a risk-factor for removal. Complication rates and patterns are not negligible and perhaps should encourage clinicians to consider using biodegradable-systems for upper-border plates.

The Influence of Mandibular Gonial Angle on Fracture Site.

PURPOSE: The mandibular angle is influenced by multiple codependent morphologic dynamic factors, such as osseous anatomy, forces exerted by the muscles of mastication, occlusal loading patterns, and anatomic structures. These factors can influence the presence of a fracture in this area. Our research aimed to investigate a potential correlation between the risk of angle fractures and age, gender, fracture etiology, gonial angle size, presence of mandibular third molars, or presence of occlusal support. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was composed of patients treated for mandibular fractures between 2007 and 2018. The primary predictor variable was the gonial angle, and the primary outcome variable was the fracture site. Other study variables included demographic data, fracture etiology, third molar status, and presence of occlusal support. Appropriate univariate, bivariate, and multivariate statistics were applied, and statistical significance was set at P < .05. RESULTS: Of 332 isolated mandibular fractures included, 109 were angle fractures; 165, condylar; and 58, body or symphysis. The mean age of patients with angle fractures was 25.5 years, compared with 31.3 years and 32.7 years for those with condylar fractures and body or symphysis fractures, respectively. The mean gonial angle was 125.4° in patients with angle fractures compared with 120.9° and 120.2° in those with condylar fractures and body or symphysis fractures, respectively. The variables that were found predictive of angle fractures were a wider gonial angle and the presence of third molars. CONCLUSIONS: Third molars and the gonial angle are predictors of the location of mandibular fractures. Wide gonial angles and the presence of third molars are predictors of mandibular angle fractures.

Mandibular osteomyelitis associated with dental implants. A case series.

PURPOSE: To present a series of rare and serious complications associated with endosseous implant therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five cases of mandibular osteomyelitis emerging in dental implant insertion sites are presented. In three cases, the clinical signs and symptoms of osteomyelitis occurred almost immediately following implant insertion. All cases occurred in patients with stable pre-existing medical conditions. Three of the patients were females and two were males, all of whom were in their sixth and seventh decades of life. RESULTS: Clinical symptoms such as pain and local infection were observed in all cases, despite long-term antibiotic treatment. All cases underwent progressive surgical treatment including corticotomy, saucerization, sequestrectomy and drainage. Two cases exhibited spreading of bone infection in the mandible which required segmental mandibulectomy and fixation using reconstruction plates. The symptom-free state was only achieved following surgical intervention and antibiotic treatment in four patients. A minimal follow-up of 1 year revealed complete resolution of the infection and symptoms in four out of five patients. The outcome of the fifth patient is unknown. CONCLUSIONS: Osteomyelitis related to dental implants is a rare and serious complication. Prolonged antibiotics at high dosage together with aggressive surgical treatment is required. Increasing the awareness among dental surgeons and maintaining correct surgical principles are essential in order to reduce the risk of osteomyelitis. Conflict of interest statement: We have no conflict of interests to report.