A biomechanical analysis of titanium miniplates used for treatment of mandibular symphyseal fractures with the finite element method.

This study aimed to evaluate the stress distribution and stress shielding effect of titanium miniplates used for the treatment of symphyseal fractures using finite element (FE) analysis. Two 3-D FE models of symphyseal fractured mandibles reduced by technique 1, reduction with a single miniplate, and technique 2, reduction with 2 miniplates, respectively, were developed. Three basic loading conditions were simulated. The ratios of stress shielding of miniplates were different. Ratios of the lower miniplates in technique 2 were much higher than the upper miniplates and the miniplates in technique 1 during all conditions, and that value of the lower miniplate gained a maximum value of 83.34% during left unilateral molar clenching. The stress areas were concentrated on the central section of the miniplates. However, the stress distribution varied with masticatory conditions. The study demonstrated that miniplate stress distribution and stress shielding effect ratio were affected not only by the way in which the mandible was loaded but also by the number of the miniplates fixing the fracture.

Ji B ，Wang C ，Liu L ，Long J ，Tian W ，Wang H ... -  《-》

Three-dimensional finite element analysis of mechanical stress in symphyseal fractured human mandible reduced with miniplates during mastication.

In this study we tried to analyze the stress distribution in a symphyseal fractured human mandible reduced by 2 different methods--reduction with 1 miniplate or with 2 miniplates--by using finite element (FE) analysis, and then compared the results with an intact mandible. Three-dimensional FE models of an intact mandible and symphyseal fractured mandibles reduced by 2 fixation methods were developed to analyze mandibular stress distribution and bite forces under 2 basic loading conditions, namely, clenching in the intercuspal position and left unilateral molar clenching. Groups of parallel vectors were used to simulate 9 pairs of masticatory muscles involved in the 2 static biting tasks. Stress distributions in reduced mandible with 1 or 2 miniplates were more or less different from that of the intact mandible. The maximum stress occurred at the biting point. Meanwhile, the subcondylar region was a stress-bearing area. During left unilateral molar clenching, bite forces obviously reduced after fracture. Bite force and the stress distribution pattern in the mandible reduced with 2 miniplates were closer to that in the intact mandible. It is suggested that the effect of the miniplates in stabilizing the continuity-broken mandible influence the restorations of the stress distribution pattern and bite force. Two miniplates have a biomechanical advantage over 1 miniplate on these restorations.

Wang H ，Ji B ，Jiang W ，Liu L ，Zhang P ，Tang W ，Tian W ，Fan Y ... -  《-》

Comparative evaluation of different miniplates for internal fixation of mandible fractures using finite element analysis.

Arbag H ，Korkmaz HH ，Ozturk K ，Uyar Y ... -  《-》

A 3-dimensional finite-element analysis investigating the biomechanical behavior of the mandible and plate osteosynthesis in cases of fractures of the condylar process.

Wagner A ，Krach W ，Schicho K ，Undt G ，Ploder O ，Ewers R ... -  《oral surgery oral medicine oral pathology oral radiology and endodontics》

Biomechanical analysis of miniplate osteosynthesis for fractures of the atrophic mandible.

Sugiura T ，Yamamoto K ，Murakami K ，Kawakami M ，Kang YB ，Tsutsumi S ，Kirita T ... -  《-》