Zahoor Ahmed Rana, Noor Ahmed Khoso, Khalid Mahmood Siddiqi, Omar Arshad, Muhammad Umar Farooq.
The Incidence and Indications for removal of Osteosynthesis Devices in Adult Trauma Patients: A Retrospective Study.
Ann Pak Inst Med Sci Jan ;8(3):184-7.

Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the incidence and indications for the removal of bone plates. Study design: Retrospective Study Place and Duration: This study was carried out at the department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) between January 2007 and December 2011. Materials and Methods: The medical records of all patients who underwent removal of bone plates after facial bone trauma were reviewed over a 5-year period. Data concerning age and gender distribution, cause of trauma, time between insertion and removal, indications and site of removal were evaluated for each patient. Results: During the study period, 861 cases underwent open reduction and internal fixation using bone plates and screws. In 51 cases bone plates were removed (46 males and 5 females) with an overall removal rate of 5.9%. The most common indication for removal was infection (51%) followed by pain (23.5%). The mandible was the most common site of removal (60.8%). Most of the plates (90%) were removed within the first year after insertion. Conclusions: Infection was seen to be the most prevalent etiological factor indicating removal. The majority of the cases warranting plate removal were the elderly having co-morbid conditions. Removal of plates are more likely to occur within the first year of insertion, effect that should be taken into consideration during the process of obtaining informed consent.

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