Treatment of mandibular fractures with 2.0 Lock plates

Objective: Modern bone surgery aim at a rapid and complete restoration of form and function. The conventional system of internal fixation with miniplates, especially in the unfavourable physiopathologic cases, could have potential complications like plates failure or plates loosening. A disadvantage of conventional bone plates system is that the plate must be perfectly adapted to the underlying bone to prevent alterations in the alignment of the segments. Some Authors maintain that the most important reasons of early mobilization are the compression of the plates on cortical bone and the traction of the screws on plate. The use of 2.0 Lock system plates could avoid these complications. Methods: We treated 34 cases with 2.0 Lock plates (Compact Lock 2.0, Synthes). The cases were selected according to fractures type: site, type of fracture, number of fragments, fracture line with or without dislocation, bone quality, malocclusion, patients characteristic and requirements. Results: All patients have a good fracture healing. In any case we use the inter maxillary block in the postoperative period. In the 10 cases with condylar fractures we performed an early physiotherapy. Conclusions: This system gives optimal results avoiding delayed fracture healing or non-union and allows a complete and early recovery of skeletal function. The 2.0 Lock plates are a valid alternative to the conventional mini plates, but they don’t substitute 2.4 lock plates that takes indication in treatment of comminuted fractures, in atrophic mandible and in oncologic reconstruction