Internal rigid fixation in mandibular osteotomies: a comparative study using compressive mechanical testing

Abstract

The present study tries to evaluate in vitro, the resistence of rigid fixation with self-tapped bicortical screws, and the displacement of the bone fragments through a compressive mechanical testing, applyng an artificial compressive load to the segments of two groups of sagittal split osteotomies perfomed in fresch sheep mandibles. Osteotomies fixed with therr screws, at a 90 degrees angle to the lateral cortices, in a linear array were significantly more rigid than those fixed with two screws, at 60 degrees angle to the lateral cortices, in a linear array.