A comparative review of 266 mandibular fractures with internal fixation using rigid (AO/ASIF) plates or mini-plates

This study compares the internal fixation of mandibular fractures using either rigid 2.7 mm AO/ASIF plates or mini-plates. In the rigid plate group, 88 fractures were fixed with 88 plates. In the mini-plate group, 116 fractures were fixed with 170 plates. All the cases were consecutive and were treated in two South Wales hospitals during a 3-year period from 1988 to 1991. The aetiology of injury, timing of surgery, site of fracture, antibiotic policy and demographic features were evenly distributed between the two groups but there was a higher incidence of females in the mini-plate group. Both plating systems were successful in restoring functional occlusion. Rigid plates avoided the use of postoperative elastics better than mini-plates but the difference was not significant. There was a significantly higher incidence (P = 0.013) of infection in the mini-plate (12.9%) compared with the rigid plate (2.3%) group but 7.9% of the rigid group developed facial nerve weakness. A significantly higher proportion of mini-plates needed to be removed (P = 0.00019). A better treatment outcome for angle and comminuted fractures was noted with rigid plates.