Influence of plate type and placement on the immobilization of bilateral equine mandibular osteotomies: Ex vivo study.
Authors: Durket Elyse, Kersh Kevin, Dembek Katarzyna, Riedesel Elizabeth, Silverstone Auri, Kraus Karl H
Journal: Veterinary surgery : VS
Summary
# Editorial Summary Surgical stabilisation of transverse mandibular fractures in horses remains technically challenging, and the choice between dynamic compression plating (DCP) and locking compression plating (LCP), combined with optimal plate positioning, has lacked robust biomechanical evidence until now. Using eighteen cadaveric equine mandibles, researchers created standardised bilateral osteotomies and tested three fixation constructs—ventral DCP, ventrolateral DCP, and ventrolateral LCP—by applying progressive bending forces to quantify stiffness and gap displacement at clinically relevant loads. Ventrolateral locking compression plating demonstrated substantially superior biomechanical performance, proving 5.25 times stiffer than ventral DCP fixation and 2.42 times stiffer than ventrolateral DCP, whilst osteotomy gap widening at 200 N load was reduced sixfold when plates were positioned ventrolaterally rather than ventrally. For equine practitioners managing transverse interdental mandibular fractures, these findings provide evidence-based support for preferring ventrolateral LCP over dynamic compression methods, likely translating to reduced postoperative complications, improved healing kinematics, and better functional outcomes in clinical cases.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Use ventrolateral locking compression plating (VL-LCP) for mandibular fracture repair in horses—it provides superior rigidity and gap stability compared to ventral or ventrolateral dynamic compression plates
- •Plate placement location (ventrolateral vs ventral) significantly affects construct stiffness, with ventrolateral positioning reducing osteotomy gap movement by over 6-fold
- •While VL-LCP offers the best overall stiffness, ventrolateral dynamic compression plating provides comparable gap stability at physiological loads, potentially useful if LCP plates are unavailable
Key Findings
- •Ventrolateral locking compression plate (VL-LCP) constructs were 5.25 times stiffer than ventral (V) dynamic compression plate constructs (P<0.001)
- •VL-LCP was 2.42 times stiffer than VL dynamic compression plate constructs (P<0.001)
- •Osteotomy gap displacement at 200N load was 6.04 times greater with ventral versus ventrolateral placement (P<0.001)
- •No significant difference in gap displacement between VL-DCP and VL-LCP constructs at 200N load (P=0.836)