Reconstruction Plates Versus Miniplates In Vascularized Osteocutaneous Flap Reconstruction Of The Mandible:A Meta-analysis And Review

Purpose: The main aim of this article is to compare the complication rate associated with the use of miniplates versus reconstruction plates in vascularized osteocutaneous flap reconstruction of the mandible.Methods: The authors searched PubMed,Web of Science,EMBASE,Chinese BioMedical Literature Database(CBM),Cochrane Library,and clinicaltrials.gov up to December 2018 to identify studies that compared the complication rate of miniplates versus reconstruction plates in patients undergoing mandibular reconstruction.Two reviewers individually extracted the data and performed a quality assessment.Plate exposure,plate fracture/removal,infection,and overall complications were evaluated.Resutls: Five studies with 511 cases were included in our analysis.No significant difference was found between the groups.Conclusion: Our meta-analysis suggests that miniplates and reconstruction plates are suitable for mandibular reconstruction with a vascularized osteocutaneous flap.