title: Reconstruction plates used in the surgery for mandibular discontinuity defect.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to analyze the survival rate of reconstruction plates that were used to correct mandibular discontinuity defects.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed clinical and radiological data of 36 patients. Only discontinuous mandibular defect cases were included in the study. Reconstruction plate survival rate was analyzed according to age, gender, location of defect, defect size, and whether the patient underwent a bone graft procedure, coronoidectomy, and/or postoperative radiation therapy (RT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plate-related complications developed in 8 patients, 7 of which underwent plate removal. No significant differences were found in plate survival rate according to age, gender, location of defect, defect size, or whether a bone graft procedure was performed. However, there were differences in the plate survival rate that depended on whether the patient underwent coronoidectomy or postoperative RT. In the early stages (9.25±5.10 months), plate fracture was the most common complication, but in the later stages (35.75±17.00 months), screw loosening was the most common complication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is important to establish the time-related risk of complications such as plate fracture or screw loosening. Coronoidectomy should be considered in most cases to prevent complications. Postoperative RT can affect the survival rate and hazard rate after a reconstruction plate is fitted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kyungpook National University School of Dentistry, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Guk-Jin
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Seol
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kyungpook National University School of Dentistry, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Gyu
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kyungpook National University School of Dentistry, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Sung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kyungpook National University School of Dentistry, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: So-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kyungpook National University School of Dentistry, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-Wook
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kyungpook National University School of Dentistry, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Geon
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kyungpook National University School of Dentistry, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Jun-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Paeng
keywords: Complications; Mandibular reconstruciton; Survival rates