Novel miniplate designs to enhance biomechanical stability in mandibular symphyseal fracture fixation

In this article, the performance of different geometries of specially designed fixation miniplates for mandibular symphyseal fracture is evaluated by investigating the effect of geometrical parameters on the biomechanical stability of the fracture. Experimental cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images were used to generate and simulate the mandible model. Two novel miniplate geometries, including rectangular and elliptical designs, are presented to achieve better biomechanical performance than conventional design. Performance of each geometric design is evaluated in six different dimensional parameters to determine the appropriate parameters for the new miniplate designs. Three-dimensional stress analysis is performed to investigate the mechanical behavior of the novel miniplates, and the results are compared with the classic miniplate. The results reveal that the relative displacement in the symphysis bone of the fractured mandible area fixed by the new rectangular and elliptical designs is reduced 9.55 % and 15.4 %, respectively. In addition, the novel designs for miniplates reduce the number of screws by two in comparison to classic miniplates. The biomechanical advantages observed, such as reduced relative displacement and a decreased number of screws (implying less surgical trauma to the bone), suggest that the novel miniplate designs hold the potential to contribute to more favorable clinical outcomes, possibly influencing aspects such as patient recovery time. Findings of this research provide a foundation for future experimental and clinical investigations of potential clinical benefits.