Mini-plate removal in maxillofacial trauma patients during a five-year retrospective study.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to analyze the incidence of indications for the removal of mini-plates over a five-year period in maxillofacial trauma patients.


METHODS
The medical records of 530 patients who underwent treatment with mini-plate fixation after maxillofacial trauma were reviewed for a five-year period (May 2007 to May 2012). Patients were evaluated concerning the number of mini-plates removed, age and gender distributions, time between insertion and removal, indication for removal, and site of removal.


RESULTS
The plates of 120 patients were removed (26 females and 94 males). The removal rate was 22.6%. The most frequent indication for removal was patient demand (81.7%), followed by tooth extraction (7.5%), and pain (3.3%). The most frequent removal site was the mandible (95.0%).


CONCLUSIONS
The number of mini-plates removed was small, and the most common indication for removal was patient demand. There is no evidence to support a recommendation for the routine removal of titanium mini-plates.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea.
Hyun-Chun
0000-0003-1937-075X
HC
Park
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea.
Su-Gwan
0000-0002-0424-9984
SG
Kim
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea.
Ji-Su
0000-0002-8369-5025
JS
Oh
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea.
Jae-Seek
0000-0001-7638-9583
JS
You
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea.
Won-Gi
0000-0002-2653-1550
WG
Kim
Fracture; Internal fixation; Trauma