Purpose: After insertion of mandible reconstruction plates, plate exposure and fracture are a clinical problem in medium and long term observation. The new three-dimensionally preformed Synthes Matrix Mandible reconstruction plate has been designed in three different sizes after complex radiological and anatomical studies. The presented retrospective study focuses on the preliminary clinical performance in 62 patients.

Methods: Data of 62 patients treated in two centres were available. Clinical and radiological evaluation regarding plate exposure, plate fracture, loosening of plates and screws, loss of the implants and operation time were collected. Depending on the underlying disease, patients were examined at different point of times.

Results: 38 male and 28 female patients with the mean age of 61.2 years were included. The mean observation period after plate insertion was 8.7 months (range 0.7–19.2 months). Except for one case, the initial healing period was uneventful; due to the necrosis of a pectoral flap with consecutive infection, transplant and plate had to be removed. Three further plates had to be removed due to infection or plate exposure. No fractures of the inserted preformed reconstruction plate have been observed. The intraoperative bending time of the plate was reduced to a minimum.

Conclusion: Regarding this preliminary observation time, reliable and reproducible results can be achieved with the used preformed reconstruction plates. In particular, until date no plate fracture occurred. On account of the anatomic design, the operation time could be considerably reduced. Further clinical evaluations are needed to validate the results in long-term observations.

Conflict of interest: None declared.