Biomechanical evaluation of unilateral subcondylar fracture of the mandible on the varying materials: A finite element analysis

PLoS One. 2020 Oct 8;15(10):e0240352. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240352. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Fixation materials used in the surgical treatment of subcondylar fractures contribute to successful clinical outcomes. In this study, we simulated the mechanical properties of four fixation materials [titanium (Ti), magnesium alloy (Mg alloy), poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), and hydroxyapatite/poly-L-lactide (HA-PLLA)] in a finite-element analysis model of subcondylar fracture. Two four-hole plates were fixed on the anterior and posterior surfaces of the subcondyle of the mandible. In the simulation model of a subcondylar fracture, we evaluated the stress distribution and mechanical deformation of fixation materials. The stress distribution conspicuously appeared on the condylar neck of the non-fractured side and the center of the anterior plate for all materials. More stress distribution to the biologic component appeared with HA-PLLA than with Ti or Mg alloy, but its effects were less prominent than that of PLLA. The largest deformation was observed with PLLA, followed by HA-PLLA, Mg alloy, and Ti. The results of the present study imply the clinical potential of the HA-PLLA fixation material for open reduction of subcondylar fractures.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Absorbable Implants
  • Alloys / chemistry
  • Bone Screws*
  • Durapatite / chemistry
  • Elastic Modulus
  • Finite Element Analysis*
  • Fracture Fixation, Internal / methods
  • Humans
  • Mandibular Fractures / surgery*
  • Polyesters / chemistry
  • Tensile Strength
  • Titanium / chemistry

Substances

  • Alloys
  • Polyesters
  • hydroxyapatite-polylactide
  • poly(lactide)
  • Durapatite
  • Titanium

Grants and funding

This research was supported by a grant from the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), funded by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea (Grant number: HI15C1535) and a Grant (No. 2016-569) from the Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.