The aim of this study is to examine the outcomes of superiorly placed monocortical single miniplate fixation in the treatment of mandibular angle fractures and evaluate treatment efficacy through craniometric measurements. Postoperative craniometrics were compared with both the preoperative measurements and the control group. Thirty-four patients were included with a mean follow-up of 3.1 years. Complications were observed in 6 patients, with 4 treated surgically and 2 managed nonoperatively. In the craniometric analyses, there was no significant difference between the preoperative and postoperative measurements of the gonial angle and condyle-midsagittal plane distance on both the fracture side and the contralateral side. The only significant difference was found in comparison of the degree of the mentum deviation (P=0.001). Postoperative mandibular morphometry was comparable to that of the control group. Single miniplate fixation corrects mentum deviation without resulting in any changes in condyle position and can achieve healthy mandibular morphometry.
Copyright © 2024 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.