Intraoperative Manipulation of Bony Segments: An Innovative Method

Various methods are deployed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon to control the osteotomised/ fractured bony segments intraoperatively till the time a stable fixation in the desired position is achieved. Few of these include the use of bone holding crocodile forceps, towel clips, reduction forceps, wires, digital control (Thota and Mitchell in Br J Orthod 26(4):325, 1999). In our technique, we present the use of an IMF screw to manipulate bony segments intraoperatively.

We used this novel technique in a series of 12 patients. An IMF screw was fixed in the greatest bulk of the bony fragment so as to control it and hold it in the desired position in various surgical procedures.

This technique was found to be minimally invasive and easy to perform to achieve a good hold and control of the bony segments.