Objective / hypothesis : The aim of this investigation was to evaluate and compare the biomechanical stability of the monoplanar strut and Champy techniques for the repair of mandibular angle fractures.

Study design : Prospective basic science study.

Methods : Fifty solid-foam mandible models (Synbone, Laudquart, Switzerland) were used in this investigation. Four controls and 23 each of 2 different repair techniques were evaluated with vertical molar loading ipsilateral to the repair site, generated by an Instron Lloyd LXR 8800. Optotrack Certus 3D image capture was used to record gapping distance and angulation about the repair site. Load and displacement data within a 0-700 Newton (N) range was measured. Mandibular angle repair techniques tested included the monoplanar strut and Champy miniplate. Data was entered and analyzed using Microsoft Excel software.

Results : The Champy miniplate technique resulted in smaller angle of rotation than the monoplanar strut plate about the plated angle fracture site. Gapping between the superior and inferior mandibular angle margins did not differ significantly between the 2 plating techniques, and did show a greater tendency for gapping deformation for the Champy technique (not statistically significant).

Conclusions : We contend that the Champy and monoplanar strut plating techniques results in similar stability in the repair of mandibular angle fractures.