Treatment of mandibular angle fractures with a matrix strut miniplate

New innovative techniques and more efficacious hardware allowing rapid and reliable fixation have resulted in better mandibular angle fracture management. This article presents follow-up data to our previous report, "Treatment of mandibular angle fracture with a matrix miniplate: a preliminary report," regarding the safety and efficacy of the 2.0 matrix strut miniplate in clinical practice. Mandibular angle fractures repaired with a single 2.0 matrix strut miniplate, using an intraoral approach, were selected for chart review over a 10-year period. Demographics including patient information, fracture etiology, site of fracture, treatment, surgical duration, and follow-up were collected. Complications were recorded along with the method of treatment. The significance (P = 0.05) of association between demographic and clinical factors with surgical complications was examined using Fisher exact tests. Thirty-four patients with mandibular angle fractures underwent matrix miniplate fixation via an intraoral approach. These patients were followed up for a mean follow-up period of 12 months. Four patients developed complications: 2 with infection requiring hardware removal and external fixation (5.9%), 1 infection treated with incision and drainage (2.9%), and 1 nonunion (2.9%). The matrix strut miniplate offers surgeons another tool to successfully accomplish mandibular fixation expediently while minimizing additional risk to patients. This system adds superior stability without negatively impacting other aspects of care and should be strongly considered for angle fixation.