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Cheung LK, Chow LK et al. Oral Surg 2004; 98: 386–397

Retrospective studies have recorded removal rates of up to 40% for plates used in osteotomy and fracture fixation. This was a prospective comparative study: in 30 patients, 87 osteotomies were fixed with 194 plates and 784 screws of titanium; and in another 30 patients, 90 osteotomies were fixed with 165 plates and 658 screws of resorbable polylactide material. Only 2 patients were smokers, both in the titanium group. Mean age was 23 yrs (range 16-39).

During operations, 72 resorbable screws were broken. There were slight differences in the time taken to place screws in different procedures. There were no differences in wound discomfort scores, clinical stability and palpability of screws and plates. There were 12 drop-outs at 1 yr, and 17 at 2 yrs. In the titanium group, dehiscence occurred in 3 patients in postoperative week 2, early infection developed in 3 patients, and 3 plates were removed; respective results in the polylactide group were: dehiscence in 2 patients at week 2 and 3 months, later infection in 3 patients, and 3 plates removed (all differences NS).