title: Causes and incidence of miniplate removal following Le Fort I osteotomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed the causes and incidence of miniplate removal during a 5-year period after Le Fort I osteotomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred forty-two patients had plates inserted for fixation of the maxilla after Le Fort I osteotomy between 2001 and 2004. The Le Fort I segment was rigidly fixed with four 2-mm titanium miniplates and 16 screws. They were followed 1 to 5 years for plate complications and need for plate removal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen of 142 patients (10.6%), 9 females and 6 males, required plate removal. The minimum time period between insertion and removal was 4 months and the maximum period was 18 months. Causes for removal were as follows: infection (40%), pain (13.3%); sinusitis (13.3%); sensitivity to temperature change (13.3%); palpability of plate (13.3%); and phobia (6.8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, the number of miniplates removed was small and required removal no sooner than 4 months postoperatively (after complete bony union), thus not compromising healing. There is no evidence from this study to support the routine removal of titanium miniplate after Le Fort I osteotomy, rather they should be removed when indicated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Azad University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Afshin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haraji
authors.forename: Mohammad Hosein Kalantar
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Motamedi
authors.forename: Nima
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Moharamnejad