Epidemiological profile of the use of fixation systems by Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Traumatology in a University Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Bone tissue is a type of specialized connective tissue characterized by its dynamic metabolism. When suffering trauma, which can be surgical (such as osteotomies) or non-surgical, resulting in a fracture, the bone undergoes two healing processes, primary and secondary. The primary healing is characterized by minimal movement between fragments and occurs in the presence of stabilization, often with internal fixation (IF) responsible for this. The secondary one occurs in the presence of a gap between the bone fragments, in the absence of stabilization. Both result in bone consolidation, but only the first guarantees the early recovery of function (such as speech and chewing) and the patient's facial aesthetics. Objectives: The objective of this study was to realize an epidemiological survey regarding the use of internal fixation systems used by Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University Hospital of UFPI. Methodology and Results: This research was submitted and released by the Research Ethics Committee of the HU-UFPI with the number CAAE: 52493221.9.0000.8050. Data were collected from 271 procedures registered in the hospital system. There were 228 patients in total, 69 who underwent surgery at another health facility, but with IF failure with an indication for removal; divided into sub-areas, 146 procedures were for facial trauma, 40 for correction of dentofacial deformities, 28 for tumour resection and 14 for reconstructive surgery. The anatomical sites where there was more installation and removal of FI were: mandible, orbital-zygomatic-maxillary complex and maxilla. Reconstructive surgery was the sub-area that had three approaches with IF replacement, in all of which the anatomic site was the mandible. The main IF failures found were infection and exposure. Conclusion: It has proved to be a difficult task to determine the reasons why plates and screws of a fixation system should be removed, even when it fails. There is no consensus among surgeons on a protocol for removing IF after the period of bone healing has passed, but it is suggested by some to remove the plates and screws after 3 months to avoid tenderness, palpability, and other complications, however it is necessary to consider the morbidity of a second procedure.