Apparatus to measure wear of soft tissue induced by reconstruction plates - A preliminary study

Mandibular reconstruction is a complex surgical procedure that aims to restore form and function. This procedure becomes necessary in cases where significant bone loss or defects occur due to medication-related osteonecrosis or severe cases of osteomyelitis, tumor resection, or congenital abnormalities. In the last decades, advancements in surgical techniques, materials, and technologies have greatly improved the outcomes of mandibular reconstruction. Nevertheless, complications such as the subsequent formation of large soft tissue wounds regularly occur after the successful treatment of these bone defects. These wounds occur as a result of the relative movements that naturally happen between the implant and the soft tissue, causing the soft tissue to wear away. However, the factors that promote or delay wear have not yet been conclusively clarified. In this work, a test bench was developed and evaluated to simulate naturally occurring movements between implant materials and soft tissue. Then, this test bench was used to compare the wear behavior of linear titanium plates with the behavior of titanium plates encased with bone cement (Palacos®) in a preliminary study. The friction coefficients for different movement patterns of the two surgical techniques were measured and the wear on the abdominal skin of pigs was examined. The results revealed that encasing the titanium plates with bone cement has advantages in terms of friction coefficients and wear for certain movement patterns.