title: Plate removal following orthognathic surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this study were to analyze outcomes with miniplates in orthognathic surgery and define risk factors resulting in plate removal.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical files of 570 orthognathic surgery patients operated between 2004 and 2009 were reviewed: 203 had a bimaxillary operation, 310 a lower jaw osteotomy, and 57 an upper jaw osteotomy. Age, sex, and jaw movement were analyzed. Reasons for hardware removal were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hardware was removed in 157 patients (27.5%). Seventy-eight patients (13.7%) needed removal because of plate-related infection; 66 (11.6%) because of clinical irritation; 5 (0.9%) for dental implant placement; and 8 (1.4%) for other reasons. Average time between operation and removal was 9.9 months. More women (31.7%) than men (20.3%) had plates removed, but age was not a factor except with infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More than a quarter of patients developed complications from plates and screws, necessitating their removal, and infection occurred in 13.7%. Prompt removal constituted adequate management.
authors: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, St. John's Hospital, Genk, Belgium.
authors: Bart
authors: B
authors: Falter
authors: Serge
authors: S
authors: Schepers
authors: Luc
authors: L
authors: Vrielinck
authors: Ivo
authors: I
authors: Lambrichts
authors: Constantinus
authors: C
authors: Politis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods; D015921:Dental Implants; D020878:Device Removal; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery; D008437:Maxilla / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D056948:Orthognathic Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D019340:Osteotomy, Le Fort / Q000295:instrumentation; D059229:Osteotomy, Sagittal Split Ramus / Q000295:instrumentation; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000601:surgery; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants