Masticatory efficiency of fracture mandible after osteosynthesis with 2 mm conventional and locking miniplates: A comparative study

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate and compare the effectiveness of locking vs conventional 2.0 mm titanium miniplate in the fixation of mandibular fractures and to compare masticatory efficiency. Materials and methods: In this study, 30 patients were selected and randomly divided into two groups (I and II). Both groups I and II consisted of 15 patients who underwent mandibular osteosynthesis using locking and conventional (non-locking) 2-mm miniplates, respectively. Postoperative follow-up was done at first, second, fourth week, and at third month for radiological and clinical assessment of all the patients. Results: In this study, a statistically insignificant result was found in the following parameters: pain, swelling, paresthesia, infection, hardware failure, and postoperative occlusal bite forces. An increase in bite force is recorded at each follow-up (first, second, fourth week, and at third month) for both the groups. When occlusal bite forces were compared, group I showed greater mean bite force than group II at each follow-up, however, the results were statistically insignificant (p value > 05). Conclusion: This study concludes that both locking and conventional miniplates are equally effective in withstanding masticatory load, with locking plates/screw system having added advantage of higher initial stability and stiffness thereby minimizing the duration of IMF. Locking miniplates system was found to have less infection and hardware failure. Clinical significance: In this study, locking plate group was found to be clinically superior because of ease of handling, higher initial stability, and stiffness, hence minimizing the total duration and had less infection and failure. © 2020, Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd. All rights reserved.