title: Customized mandibular reconstruction plates improve mechanical performance in a mandibular reconstruction model.
abstract: The purpose of this paper was to analyze the biomechanical performance of customized mandibular reconstruction plates with optimized strength. The best locations for increasing bar widths were determined with a sensitivity analysis. Standard and customized plates were mounted on mandible models and mechanically tested. Maximum stress in the plate could be reduced from 573 to 393 MPa (-31%) by increasing bar widths. The median fatigue limit was significantly greater (p < 0.001) for customized plates (650 ± 27 N) than for standard plates (475 ± 27 N). Increasing bar widths at case-specific locations was an effective strategy for increasing plate fatigue performance.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery , University Hospital of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gutwald
authors.affiliation: b Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM , Polymer Tribology & Biomedical Materials - Group , Freiburg , Germany.
authors.forename: Raimund
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jaeger
authors.affiliation: c Stryker Leibinger GmbH & Co. KG , Freiburg , Germany.
authors.forename: Floor M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Lambers
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001860:Bone Plates; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery; D063175:Mandibular Reconstruction / Q000379:methods*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
keywords: Mandibular reconstruction; fatigue testing; finite element analysis; implant; sensitivity analysis