Orthognathic surgeries often utilize rigid fixation for stabilization of the osteotomy site. The longterm fate of rigid fixations is still under investigation, and whether they should be routinely removed is under debate despite their low complication rates. Here, we report a case where a 26-year-old man suffered high-velocity trauma to his face 7 years after a two-jaw surgery. Computed tomography examination revealed a zygomaticomaxillary complex fracture, and open reduction and internal fixation was performed along with anterior maxillary wall reconstruction using absorbable mesh. Intraoperative examination revealed a broken L-shaped titanium plate near the fracture site with multiple bony fragments near each titanium screw. The rigid titanium system may have caused comminution of the fracture pattern, worsening the severity of the fracture.
Keywords: Jaw fixation techniques; Orthognathic surgery; Osteotomy, Le Fort; Zygomatic fractures.