Causes and incidence of miniplate removal following Le Fort I osteotomy.
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.
Haraji
Afshin
A
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Azad University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Motamedi
Mohammad Hosein Kalantar
MH
Moharamnejad
Nima
N