title: Retrospective study of mandibular angle fractures treated with three different fixation systems.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the outcomes of mandibular angle fractures treated with metal 2.0 mm locking, metal 2.0 mm nonlocking, and 2.5 mm resorbable systems.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Trauma records were screened for linear angle fractures treated with open-reduction and internal semi-rigid fixation with single metal/bioresorbable plates, and baseline variables were tabulated. The outcome variable was the presence or absence of any complication.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Fisher's exact test and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) using STATA 11.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 60 case records of over four years were included. The mean age of the patients was 27.4 (SD 9.7) years. Fifty-five were male and five female. There were 20 nonlocking and 16 locking metal miniplates and 24 bioresorbable plates. In 55 (91.6%) cases there was a third molar in the fracture line. In 51/55 (92.7%) cases the third molar was retained. In seven patients postoperative complications were seen. There was no difference between the complication rates of the three treatment groups. Infection was the most common complication followed by delayed union and hardware failure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This retrospective study found no difference in the complication rate when fractures of the mandibular angle were treated with locking or nonlocking miniplates or bioresorbable plates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center for Dental Education and Research, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Krushna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bhatt
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center for Dental Education and Research, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Satyavrat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arya
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center for Dental Education and Research, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Ongkila
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bhutia
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center for Dental Education and Research, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center for Dental Education and Research, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Ajoy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roychoudhury
keywords: Angle fracture; complication; mandibular; plating