Fixation of mandibular osteotomies: comparison of locking and nonlocking hardware.
BACKGROUND
: The outcome of patients undergoing rigid plate fixation of symphyseal mandibular osteotomies for exposure, resection, and reconstruction of tumors in the oral cavity or oropharynx was analyzed to determine the impact of hardware selection on complications.


METHODS
: Forty-five patients underwent titanium plate rigid internal fixation of mandibular osteotomies during cancer resection and free flap reconstruction at an academic medical center. The incidence of hardware-related complications and mandibular nonunion was compared in patients receiving either locking hardware or nonlocking hardware.


RESULTS
: The incidence of osteotomy-related complications in patients with an inferior border nonlocking mandibular fracture plate was 21%. In the patients with locking hardware or an inferior border nonlocking mandibular fracture plate combined with a tension band, there were no hardware-related complications and no mandibular nonunions. This difference was statistically significant (chi(2) = 6.01, p < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
: Locking mandibular reconstruction plates are associated with fewer complications than inferior border nonlocking mandibular fracture plates for rigid fixation of mandibular osteotomies in patients undergoing resection of head and neck cancer.
Kim
Young
Y
Division of Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Smith
Jesse
J
Sercarz
Joel A
JA
Head
Christian
C
Abemayor
Elliot
E
Blackwell
Keith E
KE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012086:Reoperation; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D014025:Titanium
D014025:Titanium