Three-dimensional locking plate and conventional mini plates in the treatment of mandibular anterior fractures

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of 2-mm 3D locking miniplate in the management of anterior mandibular fracture and to compare it with Champy’s miniplate. Subjects and methods: prospective, randomized, clinical trial was done on 30 patients complaining of mandibular anterior fractures They were divided into 2 equal groups. Group A: treated with 2mm 3D locking miniplates . Group B: treated with two conventional miniplates using Champy’s principles of osteosynthesis. Postoperative follow up was done at 1 week, 4 weeks, 3 months. The patients were evaluated according to the outcomes of the study, that was working time, wound dehiscence, infection, segmental mobility, postoperative occlusion, need for postoperative IMF, need for plate removal, and radiological evaluation of reduction and fixation. Results: The average operating time required for group (A) was approximately 8.94 min less than that required for group (B). The postoperative radiographs showed excellent reduction in all cases, with alignment of the osseous borders of the mandible. There was no incidence of wound dehiscence, tooth damage, segmental mobility and nerve damage in either group. There was statistically non-significant difference between two groups regarding occlusion; occlusion was satisfactory in most cases of both groups. Conclusion: There was no major difference in terms of treatment outcome and both the systems are equally effective in anterior mandibular fracture treatment and provide sufficient rigidity often avoiding/decreasing the need for IMF.