MINIPLATE REMOVAL FOLLOWING MAXILLOFACIAL TRAUMA: ROUTINE OR SYMPTOMATIC?

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Lecturer of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Alexandria University

2 Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Alexandria University Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt

Abstract

Background: The literature shows that hardware removal rates after fixation of maxillofacial fractures with miniplates are significant, as there are some needs for hardware removal in a number of patients who have been treated with metallic osteosynthesis devices.
purpose: The purpose of the present study was to find the rates of and reasons for miniplates removal in patients who have been treated for maxillofacial fractures.
 
patients and methods: The files of 103 patients who have been treated with open reduction and internal fixation with titanium miniplates were retrospectively revised. The number of patients who underwent miniplate removal was recorded. For each patient who has undergone miniplate removal; the indication for miniplate removal, the number of removed plates and the interval between plate placement and removal were recorded.
 
Results: 28 patients out of 103 patients have undergone miniplate removal with a total removal rate of 27.18 %. By excluding the pediatric population, the removal rate for the adult population alone was 9.6%. Twenty cases were removed due to ongoing growth in children and teenagers (71.43 %), five cases for objective reasons (17.85%) and three cases (10.71 %) due to subjective patient discomfort. A total of 51 plates were removed. Twelve plates (23.5 %) were removed from the mid-face and 39 (76.47 %) from the mandible.
 
Conclusion: The low rate of miniplate removal in this study shows that the routine removal of asymptomatic miniplates in adult population is not indicated.
 

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