SUPPLEMENTAL MAXILLOMANDIBULAR FIXATION WITH MINIPLATE OSTEOSYNTHESIS

Monocortical miniplate fixation provides biomechanical fixation of man dibular fractures. The ability of this system to adequately fixate fra ctures clinically has not been fully accepted. We analyzed our use of supplemental maxillomandibular fixation with miniplate osteosynthesis during a 5-year period, in 287 patients with 499 mandible fractures. A retrospective, matched pairing of identical fractures fixated with id entical plating schemes was carried out. Sixty-five pairs of patients undergoing intraoral monocortical plating were identified. Patients in group 1 were treated with supplemental maxillomandibular fixation aft er surgery whereas patients in group 2 were treated without postoperat ive maxillomandibular fixation, The rate of major complications was 11 % with supplemental maxillomandibular fixation and 9% without suppleme ntal maxillomandibular fixation (p > 0.05). The total rate of complica tions was 17% with supplemental maxillomandibular fixation and 20% wit hout supplemental maxillomandibular fixation (p > 0.05). No statistica lly significant outcome advantage could be attributed to the use of ma xillomandibular fixation.