Locked or unlocked?
Reviewed by Stuart Clark

This systematic review and meta-analysis from the Netherlands evaluates postoperative complications of mandibular fractures using locking and non-locking systems. It is suggested that postoperative complications of surgical treatment of mandibular fractures occur in 20-26% of patients, and it is thought that the introduction of locking plate systems may reduce these on the basis of less screw loosening. Thirty-three studies were analysed, and whilst acknowledging the low quality of the studies, the conclusion was that locking plates are superior only in respect of the need for maxilla and mandibular fixation in the early postoperative period.

Complications of locking and non-locking plate systems in mandibular fractures.
Batbayar BO, Dijkstra PU, Bos RRM, Van Minnen B.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY
2019;48:1213-26.