Relative displacement resistance of standard and low-profile bone plates in experimental mandibular angle fractures.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to compare the resistance to displacement of low-profile and standard titanium bone plate with an experimental mandibular angle fracture model.


METHODS
A jig was used to produce standard horizontally and vertically unfavorable mandibular angle fractures in 24 healthy baboon hemimandibles. Each hemimandible was immobilized with either a standard or a low-profile titanium bone plate with a Champy unicortical technique. The resistance to displacement was measured in a tensile-testing machine, and results were analyzed with a three-way analysis of variance.


RESULTS
Mean (SD) forces required to displace the fractures were standard plate 68.7 (22.8) kg and low-profile plate 46.5 (24.6) kg.


CONCLUSIONS
The standard plates provided significantly more resistance to displacement, and 75% of the low-profile plates fractured through a screwhole.
Nissenbaum
M
M
Division of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Lownie
M
M
Cleaton-Jones
P
P
D000818:Animals; D001732:Bite Force; D001860:Bone Plates; D004867:Equipment Design; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000503:physiopathology; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D010215:Papio; D014025:Titanium
D014025:Titanium