title: Comparison of biomechanical behaviour of maxilla following Le Fort I osteotomy with 2- versus 4-plate fixation using 3D-FEA: part 3: inferior and anterior repositioning surgery.
abstract: Having studied the effect of maxillary advancement and maxillary impaction in parts 1 and 2 of this research, the purpose of this study was to investigate the biomechanical behavior of different fixation models in inferiorly and anteriorly repositioned maxilla following Le Fort I osteotomy. Two separate three-dimensional finite element models, simulating the inferiorly advanced maxilla at Le Fort I level, were used to compare 2- and 4-plate fixation. Model INF-2 resulted in 247,897 elements and 53,247 nodes and INF-4 consisted of 273,130 elements and 59,917 nodes. The stresses occurring in and around the bone and plate-screw complex were computed. The highest Von Mises stresses on the plates and maximum principal stresses on the bones were found in INF-2, especially under horizontal and oblique loads, when compared with INF-4. The present biomechanical study shows that the traditionally used 4-plate fixation technique, following Le Fort I inferior and anterior repositioning surgery, without bone grafting, provides fewer stress fields on the maxillary bones and fixation materials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Erkmen
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ataç
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yücel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kurt
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D019248:Jaw Fixation Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008437:Maxilla / Q000601:surgery*; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D019340:Osteotomy, Le Fort / Q000379:methods*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical