Design of a V-Plate-Wire Mandibular Fixation System

This paper presents a novel method for internal fixation of unstable mandibular fractures. The fixation method uses a three-screw V-shaped plate and a wire. Two screws are placed normal to the fracture line. The plate is first attached to one of the screws. A wire is then passed around the plate and the opposite screw and tightened to bring the two sides of the fracture together and align them. The plate is then fixed to the other side of the fracture using two additional screws. The fixation system is designed such that the plate carries most of the load. Finite element modeling of the system shows that the method is reliable, producing low stresses. The proposed method presents a simple and quick alternative to the usual plates currently used for mandibular fixation.