A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE TREATMENT OF MANDIBULAR FRACTURES USING LOCKING PLATES AND CONVENTIONAL MINI PLATES ON PATIENTS TREATED IN ERITREA.

Dr V. Raj kumar; Dr Rajnish Chakraborty; Dr.Priya Yadav

Volume : VIII, Issue : I, January - 2019

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE TREATMENT OF MANDIBULAR FRACTURES USING LOCKING PLATES AND CONVENTIONAL MINI PLATES ON PATIENTS TREATED IN ERITREA.

Dr V. Raj Kumar, Dr Rajnish Chakraborty, Dr. Priya Yadav

Abstract :

Objectives: The study aims to assess the efficacy of locking mini plate and screw system in the treatment of mandibular fractures in comparison to the conventional system. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted in The Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Orotta School of Dental Medicine and Orotta Medical and Surgical Referral Hospital, Asmara, Eritrea, East Africa during the period of January 2013 to December 2015. A total of 46 patients with mandibular fractures meeting the inclusion criteria were included in the study. They were divided into two groups of 23 patients each. One group (group 1) was treated with 2.5mm conventional miniplates and the other (group 2) with 2.0mm locking plates. The time required for each system was noted and the groups were subsequently evaluated for post operative occlusion, the need for MMF and its duration, neurosensory deficit, incidence of screw loosening and plate fracture as well as the development of any hardware infections requiring plate removal. Results: In this study RTA emerged as the major cause of mandibular fractures (52.2%). There was statistically significant difference in the operating times of the two systems, the need for postoperative MMF and screw loosening. However in matters of post operative occlusal derangement, neurosensory deficit, plate fracture and hardware infection and plate removal, no significant variation was observed. Conclusion: Locking plate system has several advantages over the conventional miniplate system and can serve a superior option in the treatment of mandibular fractures. The only problem with the system however is the increased working time required for its adaptation which may be ignored considering the other benefits it can provide.