title: Miniplate fixation for the repair of segmental mandibular defects filled with autogenous bone in cats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the use of maxillofacial miniplate 1.5 in the repair of segmental mandibular defects filled with autogenous bone in cats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve adult cats were divided into two groups. A segmental defect of 4mm was created in one of the hemimandibles and filled with autogenous iliac crest bone graft. The operated hemimandible was fixed with a 1.5mm titanium miniplate. In group 1 (n=6), the defect was performed in the body of the mandible, behind the 1st molar. In group 2 (n=6), the defect was performed between the 4nd premolar and 1st molar, with extraction of the 1st molar. Oral alimentation was reinitiated 24 hours after surgery. Cats were euthanized at 20 weeks postoperative.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Incorporation of the graft was suggested by the radiographs taken 20 weeks after surgery. Macroscopic examination confirmed alignment and bone union of operated hemimandibles. Histological examination showed formation of woven bone in rostral and caudal mandible/graft interfaces. The percentage of bone tissue at these areas was measured by the histometry. There was no statistically significant difference between the values of group 1(64.48 ± 4.51) and group 2 (71.69 ± 14.47) (Mann-Whitney's test p= 0.294).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of miniplate 1.5 for the fixation of mandibular defects filled with autogenous bone in cats provided the main goals in the treatment of mandibular fractures: bone union, normal dental occlusion and immediate return to oral alimentation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinics, Surgery and Animal Reproduction, UNESP, Araçatuba, SP, Brazil. adelinasilva@fmva.com.br
authors.forename: Adelina Maria da
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Wilson Machado de
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Marion Burkhardt de
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Koivisto
authors.forename: Patrícia de Athayde
authors.initials: Pde A
authors.lastname: Barnabé
authors.forename: Nair Trevizan Machado de
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Souza
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001860:Bone Plates; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D007085:Ilium / Q000637:transplantation; D008297:Male; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography; D013997:Time Factors; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014945:Wound Healing