Treatment of mandibular angle fracture: Revision of the basic principles

Biodynamics of mandibular angle fractures has been extensively discussed in the literature in search for the best way to fixate and expedite recovery of trauma patients. Pioneers like Michelet and Champy had the greatest impact on evolving of osteosynthesis in maxillofacial traumatology; they introduced their basic principles frequently used to describe the biomechanics of mandibular fixation. Their concept states when a physiologic load is applied on mandibular teeth a negative tension will be created at superior border and a positive pressure will appear at inferior border. These simple definitions are the basis for the advent of fixation modalities in mandibular angle fracture. This article sought to reassess these principals based on load location via finite elements method.