Frequently Asked Questions
How many sizes do Minne Ties come in? When should I use each size?
Minne Ties come in 3 sizes: 1.0mm, 0.7mm, & 0.5mm. Similar to wire, strength increases with size. For this reason, it is always recommended to use the large 1.0mm (18g) whenever possible, which minimizes the chance of flossing out. When the large won’t fit in the embrasure, you can introduce the medium 0.7mm (21g). For patients with really tight dentition, 0.5mm can be used but rarely are needed.
What are the order configurations?
There are two configurations: the kit and supplemental 2-packs. The kit contains enough sutures to adequately support one case; 8 large (1.0mm) & 4 medium (0.7mm) & a custom cheek retractor. There are also supplemental 2-packs that can be helpful in different situations. Two-packs can be ordered in large (18g.), medium (21 g.) or small (24g.), and each two-pack contains two sutures of the same size.
How many Minne Ties should I use?
The Instructions For Use recommend a balance of 4 Ties per side, for a total of 8. The more Ties you can use, the stronger fixation/occlusion you will achieve. There are situations where a patient might have limited dentition on one side so less can be used; however, we do not recommend using fewer than 6 total, or 3 per side.
Can Minne Ties be applied and/or removed in an office setting?
Yes. However, a surgeon must always rely on his or her own professional clinical judgment when deciding whether to use a particular product to treat a particular patient.
What is the cost of Minne Ties?
While there are different pricing tiers based on volume, Minne Ties are most commonly compared to IMF screws in terms of acquisition cost. A great deal of the cost savings is derived from the time savings associated: 8-10 minutes to apply and 2-3 minutes for removal, resulting in overall cost savings. For more details, you can review the ‘Potential Savings White Paper’.
What kind of instruments do I need to apply Minne Ties?
Begin by tightening all sutures “finger tight”. Check occlusion and then do the final tightening which ensures the sutures are pulled down to the contact point of the teeth in the embrasure. To accomplish this, a surgeon may choose to hold the clasp against the teeth with a pickle fork while pulling perpendicularly out on the suture with a needle driver. Use suture scissors for cutting the suture ‘tails’ and for removal. See the Technique Guide and Application Tips document for more comprehensive information.
What types of patients cannot accept Minne Ties?
Edentulous and minimally dentulous patients; children under the age of 15 (due to mixed dentition); patients requiring guiding elastics post-operatively. The most common demographic for facial trauma is younger adult males.
Will Minne Ties hurt (the patient)?
Minne Ties are intentionally designed without wire to minimize the risks associated with wire stick injuries to doctors and patient discomfort. The smooth surfaces of Minne Ties are intentional and minimize sharp edges that can cause injury. Minne Ties Agile MMF holds occlusion without inflicting additional pain, damage and/or discomfort to the patient, can potentially eliminate wire stick risks associated to MMF, and significantly reduce operating room time.
Can Minne Ties be applied without anesthesia?
Minne Ties are applied to achieve MMF in 8-12 minutes. Because Minne Ties are non-invasive, many surgeons apply them without using general anesthesia or sedation. However, a topical anesthetic may be desired.
How strong are Minne Ties/how much do they stretch? How do they compare to arch bar and wire?
Over a 21 day period a total of 504 pulls were applied to both Minne Ties and Arch Bars/Wires. The data showed a total movement of .0575” for Arch Bars/Wires and a total movement of .0311” for Minne Ties — indicating that Minne Ties had less movement over the simulated 21 day timeframe compared to Arch Bars/Wires.
How long can Minne Ties be left on the patient?
The devices are FDA-cleared for 21 days, based upon the predicate device to attain 510(k) clearance. They can be re-applied after removing if needed. Leaving them on beyond 21 days is considered off-label.
How are Minne Ties removed?
Minne Ties, after being cut, can be slid out of the interdental space. This potentially eliminates the need for general anesthetic and O.R. removal, which allows the removal procedure to be done in a clinic or doctor’s office. Minne Ties can be removed in less than three minutes with a small pair of scissors and with little pain to the patient.
How easy is it for non-compliant patients to remove Minne Ties themselves?
In an emergency, Minne Ties can be removed at home with suture scissors or cuticle scissors. We often hear feedback from surgeons that easy and safe removal by a patient in an emergency situation is an added benefit of Minne Ties.
Can Minne Ties be loosened and re-applied?
No. The ties cannot be loosened once fully tightened. They can only be sequentially tightened. If the patient needs to be out of occlusion, Minne Ties can be cut out and additional Ties re-applied if needed.
When should Minne Ties be used for MMF?
Minne Ties should be used for the following:
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Pre-operative fixation
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Per-operative fixation
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Short-term (up to 3 weeks) fixation for minimally displaced fractures
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Splintage post jaw dislocation