فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

Background and objectives: Internal fixation is the preferred method for craniomaxillofacial, orthognathic and reconstructive surgeries. However, it can lead to complications, which may vary depending on the type of surgery and patient demographics. Common complications include screw loosening, plate breakage and infections. For instance, infections may be more prevalent in patients with pre-existing conditions or those undergoing complex reconstructive procedures, while plate breakage might be more frequent in high-impact trauma cases. This study aimed to investigate the causes and factors related to plate removal surgery in Iran. Materials and methods: This retrospective study investigated the prevalence and causes of titanium plate removal in patients who underwent plate removal surgery between 2019 and 2023 in two hospitals in Tehran, Iran. Data were collected from registered electronic files, with a focus on the date and cause of plate insertion and removal, the time interval between these events, and the demographic profiles of the patients, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 1,776 patients were included in the study, with a plate removal rate of 4.3%. The participants who underwent plate removal were mostly males (n= 44; 57.9%) with a mean age of 32.7 ± 16.6 years. The patients were categorized into five groups on the basis of the reason for plate placement: trauma, pathology, orthosurgery, esthetics and cleft. The median duration of plate placement was 14 months, with infection being the primary cause of early removal. Most of the removed plates were located in the mandible, with the highest concentrations in the angle and body areas. Conclusion: This study revealed a low frequency of plate removal, primarily due to infections, with variations observed by age and sex. It is recommended that future large- scale, multicenter studies with extended follow-up periods be conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the epidemiology, risk factors, causes, and complications associated with plate removal.