Plate Breakage After Mandibular Condylar Fracture Osteosynthesis

Despite the significant ongoing development of fixation materials, plate breakages still occur after osteosynthesis of the mandibular condyles. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the complications caused by fixation material breakages in the hope of inspiring the development of new, more durable plates; we analyzed a total of 238 plates used for osteosynthesis in this anatomical region. Cases where compression screws were used as the sole fixation material were excluded. Plate breakage was found in six cases, which accounted for 2.52% of treated individuals. It seems that most plate breakages can be avoided by maintaining effective patient supervision for up to 6 months after surgery. Risk factors for breakage are identified and guidelines for improving the design of future plates are provided. By analyzing some plate design features, we provide some indications for improving their strength and improving their designs for use in this field.