Clinical studies Annals and Essences of Dentistry Vol. IV Issue 2 Apr - Jun 2012 104 doi:10.5368/aedj.2012.4.2.5.2 THREE DIMENSIONAL BONE PLATING SYSTEM IN THE MANAGEMENT OF MANDIBULAR FRACTURES-A CLINICAL STUDY 1 Lakshmi Gandi 1 Professor and Head 2 Vivekanand.S.Kattimani 2 Assistant Professor 1,2 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Saraswati Dhanwantari Dental College and Hospital, Parbhani. Maharashtra, India.431401. ABSTRACT Over the past many years, various bone plating systems have been developed to provide stable fixation for the mandible fractures were proposed and performed. The aim of the study was to evaluate efficacy of three dimensional (3-D)titanium mini plates in the management of mandibular fractures, and to analyze structural stability of the fractured bone fragments after fixation, to evaluate the biocompatibility of the three dimensional plating system and the morbidity of three dimensional plating system. Patients and Methods: 20 patients with mandibular fractures required open reduction internal fixation of the fractures using three dimensional mini plate osteosynthesis over a period of 2 yrs. prospectively. Conclusions: Three dimensional titanium miniplates provide good stabilization of fractured fragments in three dimensions due to closed quadrangular geometric shape and ease of contouring and adapting. Less surgical exposure of underlying fracture site is needed, with a minimal traction of the surrounding soft tissue. They are biocompatible and no morbidity seen in our study. KEYWORDS: Three Dimensional mini plates, Mandibular fractures, Fracture fixation. Open reduction. INTRODUCTION Face is window through which we perceive the world around us and the world notes us. The face is crucial , injuries to face results in divesting physical and emotional sequelae. Mandibular Fractures are the most common fractures treated by oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Fractures of mandible occur more commonly than any other fractures of facial skeleton 1,2. . In the 21 st century,the near total abolition of maxillomandibular fixation in the mandibular is the major step in the evolution of maxillofacial trauma management due to advent of various plating systems. 3 The purpose of all therapy of fractures is the restoration of pre-injury anatomical form with associated aesthetics and function. Internal fixation was born of necessity, due to limitations imposed by closed reduction techniques 4 . The goal must be accomplished with less discomfort, least disability, slightest risk and shortest recovery period for the patient. Traditionally this has been achieved by immobilizing the jaws using teeth. Osteosynthesis implies functionally stable internal fixation of bone fractures, which allows the early recovery of function. In the past four decades there has been an increasing interest in obtaining more immediate return to normal function by using different methods of direct fixation with an open approach and allowing anatomical reduction of fragments. Rigid internal fixation was initially used in the oral and maxillofacial region in the late 1970s. Since the work of Michelet et al. and later Champy et al., miniplate osteosynthesis has become an important fixation method in maxillofacial and craniofacial surgery 5, 6 . More recently, three dimensional titanium plates and screws have been developed by Farmand 7,8 . Rigid fixation can produce three-dimensional stability of the fracture site, promoting primary fracture healing 4 . The healing is extremely susceptible to mechanical influences 9 . Mobility at the fracture site is one of the main causes of healing disturbances 10 and stability is considered the best protection against infection. The basic concept of three dimensional fixation is that a geometrically closed quadrangular plate secured with bone screws creates stability in three dimensions . The three dimensional plates are positioned parallel to fracture