Evaluation of an experimental oblique plate for osteosynthesis of mandibular condyle fractures.

Objective: The aim of this study was to test the bone thickness and potential screw length for osteosynthesis of condylar base fractures (according to the Loukota classification) with an experimental titanium plate, placed in an ideal position against 2 types of conventional plates.

Study Design: After exclusion of completely edentulous mandibles, 28 dentate macerated mandibles available at the time of the study were included. Linear regression models 1 and 2 compared the sums of the 2 cranial bone thicknesses and the 3 caudal thicknesses among the 3 different plate designs, and linear models 3 and 4 tested the bone thickness in the 2 most cranial screw axes.

Results: Linear models 1 and 2 revealed significantly higher potential screw lengths for the experimental oblique plate. Equally, linear models 3 and 4 indicated significantly higher bone thickness for the novel oblique plate.

Conclusion: The novel proposed oblique plate allows for favorable plate positioning in a biomechanically ideal location with sufficient amounts of local bone for stable plate fixation. When plates with 15-degree angulated screw holes are used, stable bicortical plate fixation can be achieved.