Effects of Titanium Plate Fixation on Mandibular Growth in a Rabbit Model
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of metallic rigid fixation of mandibular corpus fracture on mandibular growth in growing rabbits.
Materials and Methods
Thirteen 90-day-old white New Zealand rabbits weighing 2 to 2.6 kg were included in this study. Unilateral mandibular fractures were created in all of the animals and fixed with microplates and screws. Microplates that had been adapted for fixation of the left (experimental) side were also used as a template for the drilling procedure on the right (control) side of the mandible. The plate was then removed, and screws were inserted. Digital submentovertex radiographs of each animal were taken before the operation and 6 months after surgery. Cephalometric values were analyzed. The distance between the centers of the 2 screws on the right side of the mandible was measured with a caliper in all samples, and values were compared with measurements taken from the left (experimental) side of the mandible upon which the plates had been placed.
Results
The mean amount of mandibular growth was 4.38 ± 2.43 mm on the right (control) side and 4.64 ± 2.27 mm on the left (experimental) side. This difference was not statistically significant (P > .05). The distance between the 2 screws was 13.89 ± 0.23 mm on the experimental side and 13.44 ± 0.46 mm on the control side. This difference was statistically significant (P < .05).
Conclusions
Metallic fixation of a mandibular body fracture did not cause mandibular asymmetry or restricted mandibular growth in growing rabbits in this relatively small sample.
⁎Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Başkent University, Ankara, Turkey
†Fellow, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Başkent University, Ankara, Turkey
‡Fellow, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Başkent University, Ankara, Turkey
§Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Başkent University, Ankara, Turkey
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr Uckan: Başkent Üniversitesi Dişhekimliği Fakültesi, 11 Sok No. 26 06490 Bahçelievler, Ankara, Turkey
This study was supported and funded by the Başkent University Academic Research Projects Unit.
ABSTRACT