title: Effect of the number of screws on the stability of locking mandibular reconstruction plates.
abstract: Atrophic mandible fractures are frequently a challenge to stabilize. This study evaluated, through mechanical testing in vitro, the number of locking screws that is sufficient to withstand loading when applied with a locking reconstruction plate in the fixation of atrophic mandible fractures. Polyurethane mandibles with a simulated linear fracture at the midline were used as substratum. Results show that resistance of the fixation is poor when one and two screws are used on each side of the fracture. Three screws on each side of the fracture significantly increases the resistance to displacement. However, no additional strength is added to the construct when more than three screws per side are used.
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Dental School of Araraquara (UNESP), Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Pereira-Filho
authors.forename: B N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nunes Reis
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Spin-Neto
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Real Gabrielli
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Monnazzi
mesh_terms: D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000150:complications; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D019248:Jaw Fixation Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric