AO reconstruction plate systems for the repair of mandibular defects 3-DBRP versus Thorp-system

The AO-maxillofacial division offers two different reconstruction plate systems for the repair of mandibular defects--the conventional 3-dimensionally-bendable reconstruction plate (3-DBRP) and the titanium hollow screw and reconstruction plate (THORP). Both systems were investigated and compared under identical conditions in an experimental study. The results of this investigation show a higher incidence of instability using the THORP-system. We believe that for the THORP, the anchorage applying only two screws in each bone stump as recommended by Raveh et al. (1984), is not sufficient to bear full functional loading immediately.