Slotplates revisited - A retrospective analysis.

[CONTEXT] Slotplates were specifically designed to meet the special requirements of corrective surgeries of the facial skeleton. This design enables small readjustments of bone fragments in the midface and chin area during surgery without complete removal of plates and screws.

[OBJECTIVE, DESIGN, AND SETTING] The aim of this study was to compare morbidity rates of slotplates versus meshplates after Le Fort I osteotomy, genioplasty and/or zygoma 'sandwich' osteotomy performed in a tertiary care centre.

[RESULTS] The investigators analyzed chart records of 190 patients, including a total of 257 surgeries. Slotplates were used in 109 patients, meshplates in 81 patients. Plate infection rates were 9.2% in the slotplate group and 7.4% in the meshplate group. Twelve patients (11.0%) from the slotplate group underwent plate removal versus four patients (4.9%) from the meshplate group. In total, there were two cases of delayed union, both in the slotplate group, one progressed to non-union.

[CONCLUSION] Due to the low study power significant differences between the two types of plates could not be detected. However, there is a slight tendency towards higher morbidity associated with the use of slotplates. The probability of mechanical weakness of the configuration being responsible for the fatigue fractures is also discussed in this article.