Metallic plate stabilisation of bone grafts in craniofacial surgery

The use of Champy miniplates to stabilise bone grafts in osseous defects following craniofacial and orbital osteotomies is discussed. The advantages of these methods are decrease in operating time, accurate fit of the bone graft and the fixation of the bone graft in the plane of the plate, thus placing it exactly into the correct position in relation to the osteotomy. Total stability is obtained and, in maxillary advancement, intermaxillary fixation may not be necessary. This is useful in children and at all ages adds to the postoperative safety. There may be less relapse with this rigid internal fixation. Long term follow-up will be required to determine whether this statement is true. Although the plates are expensive, it is felt that the reduction in operating time outweighs this.