Three-dimensional Locking Plate and Conventional Miniplates in the Treatment of Mandibular Anterior Fractures

Three-dimensional (3D) locking plates has been designed with the hypothesis that this will overcome the disadvantages of both the systems and also advantages of both systems will be combined for the management of mandibular fractures.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of 2-mm 3D locking miniplate in the management of anterior mandibular fracture and to compare it with Champy's miniplate.

A prospective, randomized, clinical trial was carried out in thirty patients who were divided equally in two groups.

Group I and Group II patients were treated with 2-mm 3D locking plates and 2-mm standard miniplates, respectively. They were evaluated according to the outcomes of the study, that is, working time, wound dehiscence, infection, segmental mobility, postoperative occlusion, need for postoperative intermaxillary fixation (IMF), and radiological evaluation of reduction and fixation.

Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney test were used to compare the two systems. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Science version 14.0. The P value was taken as significant when <0.05 (confidence interval of 95% was taken).

The mean duration of procedure for Group I was found to be 49.33 min, whereas for Group II was 59.67 min. There was significantly greater pain on day 1 and at 1 week in Group II patients. 6.7% (n = 1) of both groups showed incidence of infection. Postoperative stability was adequate in most cases except in one patient (n = 1) of 3D locking system, which was revealed as postoperative occlusal disharmony, unsatisfactory radiological reduction of the fracture fragments, and the segmental mobility. There was no incidence of wound dehiscence, tooth damage, and nerve damage in either group.

The result of the study can conclude that there is no major difference between both systems in terms of treatment outcome.