Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Bioabsorbable miniplates have good achievements after implantation, which have similar effect to the miniature titanium fixation system. Due to its absorbability, the bioabsorbable miniplate cannot exist in the body for a long time, which cannot influence bone stresses, cannot result in bone tissue atrophy, and have fewer complications than traditional metal internal fixations.
OBJECTIVE: To explore and analyze the effects of miniature titanium internal fixation system versus bioabsorbable miniplates on fracture stability in patients with mandibular fractures.
METHODS: Ninety patients with mandibular fractures admitted at the Department of Stomatology, Hainan General Hospital from January 2013 to May 2015 were enrolled. All the subjects were divided into two groups according to different internal fixations: miniature titanium group and bioabsorbable miniplate group.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: At 3 months after internal fixation, the stability rate was significantly higher in the bioabsorbable miniplate group than the miniature titanium group. At 1 year after internal fixation, the range of motion of the processus condyloideus was significantly higher in the miniature titanium group than the bioabsorbable miniplate group. These findings suggest that the bioabsorbable miniplate and miniature titanium internal fixation system both have good clinical outcomes in the treatment of mandibular fractures. The miniature titanium internal fixation system is easy to use and has good stability; the bioabsorbable miniplate can reduce foreign body reaction and prevent osteoporosis, and it has an ideal stability in combination with intermaxillary traction. Therefore, what kind of internal fixations is selected should be determined based on the willingness and conditions of patients. 

中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：生物材料；骨生物材料; 口腔生物材料; 纳米材料; 缓释材料; 材料相容性；组织工程

Key words: Titanium, Temporomandibular Joint, Mandible, Fractures, Bone