Investigation of a Modified Novel Technique in Bilateral Sagittal Splitting Osteotomy Fixation: Finite Element Analysis and In Vitro Biomechanical Test

PURPOSE: To evaluate the biomechanical properties of the modified novel 2-hole monocortical plate fixation (2HMCPf) and traditional 4-hole monocortical plate fixation (4HMCPf) techniques in bilateral sagittal splitting osteotomy (BSSO) synthesis using a finite element analysis (FEA) and an in vitro biomechanical test with the application of a shearing loading force on a sawbone mandible model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A three-dimensional mandible models were generated using the geometry obtained from the computerized tomography image of a sawbone mandible. Plates and screws were generated and combined with the mandible in a CAD environment. The 2HMCPf and traditional 4HMCPf techniques for BSSO osteosynthesis were then analyzed under the occlusal load using the FEA. An in vitro biomechanical test was executed to verify the result of FEA. The force on fixation failure and pattern of failure were recorded. RESULTS: The results revealed that the von Mises Stress on the mandible cortical bone (75.98 MPa) and the screw/plate (457.19 MPa) of the 2HMCPf group was lower than that of the 4HMCPf group (987.68 MPa, 1781.59 MPa). The stress concentrated on the central region of the 4HMCPf group and the distal set of the 2HMCPf group. In vitro study using the sawbone mandible model showed mechanical failure at the region of the proximal segment near the osteotomy site with the 4HMCPf group (average 32.198 N) but no failure on the fixation sites with the 2HMCPf group. Instead, the mandible sawbone fractured on the condyle neck region (average 44.953 N). CONCLUSION: From the biomechanical perspective, we proved that the 2HMCPf method was able to withstand a higher shearing loading force than the 4HMCPf fixation method in BSSO osteosynthesis.