This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Anna-Lisa Söderholm, MD, DDS, PhD; Dorrit Hallikainen, MD, PhD; Christian Lindqvist, MD, DDS, PhD

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1993;119(9):1031-1036.

Abstract
To evaluate the benefits of narrow-beam roentgenography and spiral tomography for examination and monitoring of screw and plate fixation to bone we studied 22 rigid plate bridgings of mandibular defects. The plate reconstructions were of long duration or considered permanent. In 13 patients, AO-THORP (AO: Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen; THORP: Titanplasma-beschichteten Hohl- und Vollkern-Rekonstruktionsplatten-Systems) reconstructions were used and in nine classic AO stainless steel plate bridgings. With the AO-THORP system, good bone apposition to the screws was evident in 96% (73/76 screws) of the cases. Fixation using the classic AO screws, however, was inadequate in 30% (20/66 screws) of the cases. Plate loosening was noted in 56% (5/9 plates). Examination using narrow-beam roentgenography and spiral tomography provided detailed information about bone resorption around the screws and provided a reliable tool for deciding on a follow-up regimen. When complications occur, they can be detected and treated early, reducing patient morbidity. In our opinion, classic AO plate bridging should always be considered temporary.

(Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1993;119:1031-1036)

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and the Department of Radiology, Fourth Department of Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Volume-Length Impact of Lateral Jaw Resections on Complication Rates
Arden et al.
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1999;125:68-72.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Lateral Mandibular Reconstruction Using Soft-Tissue Free Flaps and Plates
Blackwell et al.
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1996;122:672-678.
ABSTRACT