Routine Screening Radiography for Retained Wire Following Arch Bar Removal Is Not Indicated

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Radiology
• Medical Device Safety

Background:

• Arch bars are commonly used for mandible fracture fixation.
• Retained wires after removal can potentially cause complications.
• The utility of routine postoperative radiography for detecting retained wires is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the diagnostic value of routine radiography for detecting retained wires after arch bar removal.
• To determine the incidence of retained wires and associated sequelae following arch bar removal.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of medical records for mandible fracture cases involving arch bars.
• Comparison of wire incidence between a group screened with radiography post-removal and a non-screened group.
• Analysis of radiographic and clinical findings related to retained wires.

Main Results:

• 95 patient records met inclusion criteria; 55 in the screen group, 40 in the comparison group.
• Retained wires were detected in 2% of the screen group and 3% of the comparison group.
• No statistically significant difference in retained wire incidence or adverse sequelae between groups.

Conclusions:

• Routine radiography after arch bar wire removal has limited screening value.
• Imaging should be reserved for patients with clinical suspicion of retained wires.
• Low incidence of retained wires and sequelae supports a selective imaging approach.