Risk Factors for Plate Infection, Exposure, and Removal in Mandibular Reconstruction

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Reconstructive Surgery
• Biomaterials in Medicine

Background:

• Mandibular plate reconstruction (MPR) is crucial for restoring function and aesthetics after significant bone loss.
• Identifying risk factors for MPR complications is essential for improving patient outcomes.
• Plate complications, including infection (PIn) and exposure, can necessitate further interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify risk factors associated with plate complications following mandibular plate reconstruction.
• To analyze demographic, clinical, intraoperative, and postoperative factors influencing MPR outcomes.
• To determine predictors for plate infection, exposure, and removal.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study of 188 patients undergoing MPR from 2013-2022.
• Analysis of risk factors using multivariable logistic regression.
• Survival analysis performed with a Cox proportional hazards model.

Main Results:

• Plate complications occurred in 25.5% of patients (infection 11.7%, exposure 12.2%, removal 18.6%).
• Predictive factors for complications included smoking status, soft tissue defect size, number of plates, screw length, and postoperative complications.
• Plate infection and exposure were significantly associated with increased rates of plate removal.

Conclusions:

• Plate complications are a significant concern after MPR.
• Smoking, surgical factors, and postoperative issues are key risk indicators.
• Further research is needed to validate findings and address literature discrepancies regarding MPR complications.