Jürgen Wallner1, Knut Reinbacher2, Matthias Feichtinger2, Mauro Pau2, Georg Feigl3, Franz Quehenberger4, Katja Schwenzer-Zimmerer2, Wolfgang Zemann2. 1. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 5/1, A-8036 Graz, Austria. Electronic address: j.wallner@medunigraz.at. 2. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 5/1, A-8036 Graz, Austria. 3. Department of Anatomy, Medical University of Graz, Harrachgasse 21/1, A-8010 Graz, Austria. 4. Department for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Documentation, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 2, A-8036 Graz, Austria.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Fractures of the mandibular angle are a common type of facial skull fracture. Although operative treatment includes a wide range of fixation techniques, a definite gold standard method has yet to be established. Headless, cannulated Herbert screws, often used in many forms of minimally invasive trauma surgery, provide functional and stable fracture fixation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective, double-randomised, controlled, parallel-group - designed, in vitro trial, the biomechanical behaviour of the Herbert bone screw system was compared to that of a conventional locking plate system in 40 mandibular angle fractures of human mandible cadaver phantoms. RESULTS: The mean stress values were 250 (±68.0) N in the plate subgroup and 200 (±61.0) N in the screw subgroup. The respective mean strain values were 7.90 (±2.7) mm and 6.90 (±2.2) mm, and the respective mean stiffness were values 1.10 (±0.61) N/m and 0.78 (±0.40) N/m. The differences in the results obtained using the two treatments were not significant (p = 0.55). CONCLUSIONS: The biomechanical behaviour of the two fixation systems within the tested loads did not significantly differ with respect to postoperative parameters clinically relevant in osteosynthesis. Both systems met the mandibular angle assessment criterion, which is considered to be sufficient for clinical use. The results indicate the potential clinical utility of these two systems, and recommend further testing.
RCT Entities:
INTRODUCTION:Fractures of the mandibular angle are a common type of facial skull fracture. Although operative treatment includes a wide range of fixation techniques, a definite gold standard method has yet to be established. Headless, cannulated Herbert screws, often used in many forms of minimally invasive trauma surgery, provide functional and stable fracture fixation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective, double-randomised, controlled, parallel-group - designed, in vitro trial, the biomechanical behaviour of the Herbert bone screw system was compared to that of a conventional locking plate system in 40 mandibular angle fractures of human mandible cadaver phantoms. RESULTS: The mean stress values were 250 (±68.0) N in the plate subgroup and 200 (±61.0) N in the screw subgroup. The respective mean strain values were 7.90 (±2.7) mm and 6.90 (±2.2) mm, and the respective mean stiffness were values 1.10 (±0.61) N/m and 0.78 (±0.40) N/m. The differences in the results obtained using the two treatments were not significant (p = 0.55). CONCLUSIONS: The biomechanical behaviour of the two fixation systems within the tested loads did not significantly differ with respect to postoperative parameters clinically relevant in osteosynthesis. Both systems met the mandibular angle assessment criterion, which is considered to be sufficient for clinical use. The results indicate the potential clinical utility of these two systems, and recommend further testing.