Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and reasons for removing bone plates used to fixate mandibular fractures in an inner-city population.

Method: This study consisted of 353 individuals with 419 fracture sites fixated with bone plates. All plates were removed in less than one year.

Results: The 353 patients comprised 317 males and 36 females. Twenty two – 22 – (5.25%) of the plates had to be removed. 17 of the 22 were removed due to infection (72% of those removed) and five due to system failure. 2 were removed from the symphysis and 20 (90%) from the angle.

Conclusion: The results shows that 20(90%) of the plates that were removed were from mandibular angle fractures. Only 2 of the plates removed were from mandibular body. These results shows, that the anatomic location of the fracture has a significant factor in post operative complications leading to plate removal. Furthermore we have studied patient income and education level as a factor leading to increase in postoperative complication. Average income among patients in this hospital is below half of the United States National standards. After comparing our complication rate which was about 6.2% to another study done by Ellis with complication rate of 16% after fixation of mandibular fractures with mini plates, we concluded that patient’s income or educational level were not significant factors leading to increased postoperative complication. In our opinion anatomic location of the fracture was a significant factor among others leading to higher complication rate.

Conflict of interest: None declared.