Comparison of lag-screw versus miniplate for osteosynthesis of anterior mandibular fracture: A Randomized Control study

ABSTRACT
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of mandibular fractures fixation in order to compare lag screw technique with standard miniplates. Methods: This prospective randomized comparative study was conducted on 20 patients with mandibular anterior fractures treated with open reduction and internal fixation. The patients were then randomly allocated into two groups. Group 1: two lag screws were used for fracture osteosynthesis in 10 patients. Group 2: two miniplates were used for fracture osteosynthesis in 10 patients. The surgery was done by the same surgical team who did not involve within the research work. The time for hardware fixation was recorded intraoperatively. Patients were assessed clinically and radiographically for fracture stability, malocclusion, masticatory efficiency, mouth opening, paresthesia, pain, edema, infection, wound dehiscence, malunion/ununion and hardware loosening. A repeated measure ANOVA were used to evaluate the different between lag screw and miniplates. Results: Hardware fixation time showed a highly significant (p < 0.001*) difference between group-1 Lag screw with an average of 15.80±0.80 minutes and group-2 miniplates with an average of 20.01±0.823 minutes. The difference in interfragmentary distance between lag screw and miniplates treatments were nonsignificant (p>0.05). regarding occlusion, fracture stability, mastication biting efficiency and postoperative complications a non-significant (p < 0.05) difference between both groups as revealed. Conclusions: According to the result of this prospective study it is concluded that, the internal fixation of anterior mandibular fractures with lag screws osteosynthesis is simple, successful, achieving rapid fixation with minimal complications.