RESUMO
PURPOSE: This prospective study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of stainless steel single linear miniplate with rectangular grid plate in the treatment of mandibular angle fractures. METHODS: This study included 30 patients who were allocated randomly into two groups of each. Group 1 patients were treated with single 2 mm × 4 hole linear stainless steel miniplate and group 2 patients with 2 mm × 4 hole rectangular grid plate. Patients were evaluated for fracture stability, occlusion, mouth opening, and complications at 1st week, 1 and 3 months post operatively. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups with respective variables statistically. In group 1 20 % (n = 3) had mild occlussal derangement 6.66 % (n = 1) patient had deranged occlusion at 1 week post operatively and 13.3 % (n = 2) had mild derangement at 1 month post operatively. In group 2 6.66 % (n = 1) had mild derangement at 1 week postoperatively. 20 % (n = 3) had limited mouth opening at 1 week in group 1 and 13.3 % (n = 2) in group 2. All patients in both groups achieved adequate mouth opening by the end of 3 month. None of the patients in both groups had plate fracture, screw loosening, non union or mal-union. CONCLUSION: Within the limits of the study, use of rectangular grid plates for fixation of mandibular angle fractures was reliable with low complication rates, easy adaptation and an effective alternative to conventional miniplates. Further clinical studies with larger sample size can derive a more comprehensive conclusion.
