title: Is failure of condylar neck osteosynthesis predictable based on orthopantomography?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Osteosynthesis failure rates of 11.3% with 1 miniplate, 6.7% with 2 miniplates, and 4.4% with a single Medartis condyle plate were reported in previous studies of our clinic. Current science is still focused on the osteosynthesis material. Besides clinical parameters, conventional radiographs are still the first choice to detect osteosynthesis failures. This study scrutinized several factors assessable in postoperative orthopantomographs which might elevate the risk of osteosynthesis failure.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 136 patients (22 with osteosynthesis failure, 114 without) with 151 mandibular condyle fractures were included in this study. Eight parameters were assessed in postoperative orthopantomographs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The best predictor of osteosynthesis failure was a simplified concept of ramus height. In cases of reduced or normal ramus height, the odds of osteosynthesis failure was significantly (P = .000001) reduced to a 10th. Isolated fractures were significantly more error prone (P = .0009).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Postoperative orthopantomographs depict factors which increase the risk of osteosynthesis failure.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Craniomaxillofacial and Oral Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. rudolf.seemann@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Seemann
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Undt
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lauer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Holawe
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schicho
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Czerny
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Krennmair
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ewers
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Klug
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perisanidis
mesh_terms: D000359:Aftercare; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001860:Bone Plates; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004724:Endoscopy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005544:Forecasting; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012399:Rotation; D013997:Time Factors; D017211:Treatment Failure