الفهرس 
REVIEW OF LITERATUREOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate both clinically and radiographically the use of three dimensional rhombic plate compared with the two miniplates in the fixation of extracapsular mandibular subcondylar fractures.
A total of twenty patients were selected from those admitted to the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Alexandria University suffering from extracapsular mandibular subcondylar fracture. Their ages ranged between 30 and 40 years with mean age of 35 years. Ten patients were assigned to the study group and treated with non locking rhombic three dimensional plates, while the other ten were assigned to the control group and treated with the 2 miniplate protocol.
Patients were then followed up for 6 months postoperatively and the collected clinical and radiographic data was statistically analyzed.
Clinical results
None of the patients in either of the groups had infection, nonunion, plate fracture or loosening of plate and screws within the follow up period.
The mandibular movements in all three planes were measured at 1 week, 3 weeks, 3 months and 6 months for both groups. there was only a significant difference in the maximal mouth opening between the two groups on 3 months postoperatively in favor of the study group, otherwise there was no significant difference in mandibular mobility between the two groups throughout the follow up period . Lateral deviation on opening was noticed in 20% of the study group and 30% of the control group at 1week with no statistically significant difference. This deviation was not noticed on 3 examination and till the end of the follow up period.
Radiographic findings
On 3 and 6 months the mean bone density in the study group was higher then the control. This finding proved to be statistically significant. Also the percent change in bone density proved to be significantly higher in the study group throughout the follow up period.