A Total Mandibular Plate to Bridge Large Defects of the Mandible

A special plate is required for the treatment of defect fractures and to stabilize bone grafts following partial resection in the treatment of tumors of the mandible. The following demands are made on such a plate: 1 stability: two fragments have to be held absolutely rigid without the aid of interfragmentary compression. 2. The healing of avulsed bone fragments of cancellous bone or of transplanted bone chips depends on immediate revascularization from the surrounding tissue. Therefore, impairment of revascularization by the plate must be reduced to a minimum. 3. A high degree of malleability: the plate has to be fitted to large areas of the mandible.