[The effect of rigid fixation on bone growth: a radiologic study in the rabbit]

The rigid fixation with plates represents an useful aid in the treatment of the maxillofacial diseases. To the best of our knowledge no studies on the effects of the plates placed across the growing fronto-nasal suture are available. We have therefore examined these effects in an experimental model represented by the suture of eight rabbits. The surgical procedure consists of placing one microplate and four screws across the frontonasal suture of each rabbit, one month old. Radiographies were made both at the moment of the operation and after thirty days. Our results demonstrate a decrease of the normal growth of the suture stressed by plates.