Microplate Versus Combined Microplate-Miniplate in Fixation of Zygomaticomaxillary Complex Fractures: An In-Silico Analysis of Biomechanical Parameters

Introduction: To compare the biomechanical parameters of microplates and the combined miniplate-microplate for fixing zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) fractures using nonlinear finite element analysis (FEA).

Material And Methods: Two samples of ZMC fracture models were prepared. In sample 1 (S1), the fractures were stabilized with microplates, and in sample 2 (S2), with miniplates plus microplates. FEA software was used to measure the displacement, Von Mises stress distribution (VMSD), and maximum principal stress distribution (MPSD).

Results: The displacement was 6.7 μm in the L-shaped plate of both samples, 4.4 μm in the S1 lateral-edge plate, 4.8 μm in the S2 lateral-edge plate, 5.8 μm in the S1 bottom-edge plate, and 5.6 μm in the S2 bottom-edge plate. The VMSD was 41.1 MPa in the S1 lateral-edge plate, 24.3 MPa in the S2 lateral-edge plate, 7.6 MPa in the S1 Lshaped plate, 9.6 MPa in S2 L-shaped plate, 28.5 MPa in the S1 bottom-edge plate, and 11.8 MPa in the S2 bottom-edge plate. The MPSD was 46.2 MPa in the S1 lateral-edge plate, 26.4 MPa in the S2 lateral-edge plate, 3.6 MPa in S1 L-shaped plate, 4.2 MPa in S2 L-shaped plate, 30.9 MPa in S1 bottom-edge plate, and 14.1 MPa in the S2 bottom-edge plate.

Conclusion: The L-shaped and lateral-edge plates in both samples had the highest and lowest amount of displacement, respectively. The lateral-edge plates in both samples had the highest VMSD and MPSD, which was higher in S1 than S2. The L-shaped plate had the lowest VMSD and MPSD in both samples.