A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CONVENTIONAL 2.0mm MINI PLATES VERSUS 3D MINI PLATES IN THE FIXATION OF ISOLATED MANDIBULAR SYMPHYSIS FRACTURES

Objectives: Compare the outcomes of conventional 2.0mm mini plates versus 3D mini plates in the fixation of isolated mandibular symphysis fractures.
Methods: One hundred and fifty four patients were selected on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria. They were randomly allocated into two groups by sealed envelope method of randomization i.e. ‘I’ group in which patients were treated with conventional mini plates and ‘II’ group where patients were treated with 3D mini plates. Each group comprised of seventy seven patients. Post-operatively, all patients were evaluated for the following 3 outcomes (occlusion, mobility of fracture segments and anatomic reduction) of both plating systems used at 1^st postoperative day and 3 month postoperatively. The SPSS version 21 was applied to the data.
Results: Overall mean (+SD) age of patients was 29.53 (± 7.88) years. Among 154 patients in this study, majority (75.3%) of cases had age 20 - 35 years. Among one hundred and fifty four patients, one hundred and fifty five (81.2%) were males and 29 (18.8%) were females with male to female ratio was 4.31:1. In Group II (3D Plates) at 3 months post-operatively, ideal molar relationship was higher (89.6% Vs. 98.7%; p-value = 0.016). Similarly, fracture mobility was higher in Group I (14.3% Vs. 2.6%; p-value = 0.009). Finally, anatomic reduction at 3 month post-operatively was higher in Group II (39% Vs. 72.7%; p-value = 0.001).
Conclusions: Three dimensional miniplates are more effective compared to conventional miniplates.