Comparison of Clinical Efficacy Between Two Straight Miniplate Systems Versus Three‐Dimensional Plate in Treating the Parasymphysis of Mandible Fracture: A Prospective Clinical Study

ABSTRACT Aim To compare and evaluate the operative time and treatment outcomes in the parasymphysis of the mandibular fracture fixation using two straight mini plates system versus a single three‐dimensional plate. Materials and Methods It was a prospective clinical study conducted at the Saveetha Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, between January 2024 and June 2024. Patients aged more than 16 years with parasymphysis of mandible fracture irrespective of sex, side, and aetiology were included in the study. Patients having mandible fractures combined with midface fractures or frontal bone fractures, dual mandible fractures, and fractures managed with other methods like maxillomandibular fixation were excluded from the study. After enrollment, patients were allocated sequentially with a 1:1 ratio between the two groups. Group I was treated with open reduction and internal fixation using a single three‐dimensional (3‐D) mini plate. Group II was treated using two straight two‐dimensional (2‐D) mini plates. The demographic variables and study variables like operating time, VAS pain scores, and occlusion were recorded. The collected data were analysed using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version [23]. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results A total of 20 patients with 10 participants in each group were enrolled. The mean age of the present study population was 29.7 ± 11.76 years in Group I and 29.5 ± 9.32 years in Group II. It was found that the mean operating time for Group I (40.15 ± 6.02 min) was less than the mean operating time for Group II (49.25 ± 5.36 min). The mean difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( p = 0.002). It was found that mean VAS pain scores were slightly higher among participants in 2‐D miniplate when compared to participants in 3‐D miniplate for the 1st, 2nd, 7th, and 14th days, but it was not statistically significant. There was no occlusal discrepancy in Group I in the immediate postoperative period; however, two patients recorded a minimal occlusal discrepancy of 2–3 mm in Group II. Conclusion Parasymphysis of mandible fractures treated with single 3‐D mini plates has lesser operative time and superior occlusal stability compared to two straight 2‐D mini plates. Hence, 3‐D plates can be considered a better choice in the management of parasymphysis fractures.