Double unilateral, bilateral, and multiple mandibular fractures: an observational study

Postoperative Intermaxillary Elastic Traction Contributes to the Stability of Absorbable Plates Fixation for Bilateral Mandibular Fracture

The use of absorbable plates can be challenging for mandibular fractures involving bilateral dentition. Chewing and mouth opening movements may cause loosening or breakage of absorbable materials, leading to displacement of bone segments and resulting in malocclusion. The use of absorbable materials for bilateral mandibular fracture surgery itself raises concerns for surgeons. Timely intermaxillary elastic traction is essential for these patients after surgery to maintain correct occlusion. The surgical approaches were performed with intraoral mandibular sulcus incisions. During the surgery, intermaxillary fixation screws were implanted and steel wires were used for intermaxillary ligation and fixation to restore the occlusal. After the fractured segments were sequentially reduced, they were fixed with inion 2.0 absorbable plates. The patient underwent intermaxillary elastic traction for 1 week. Elastic mask was used to assist in stabilizing the position of the jawbone and maintaining occlusion. After discharge, the patient continued traction at home for 3 weeks before removing the intermaxillary fixation screws. The patient recovered well after surgery without any complications. The postoperative occlusal relationship is good. Postoperative CT showed good reduction of the fractured segments. For the case reported in this article, elastic traction was promptly implemented after surgery. We emphasize that restoring occlusion is always the treatment goal for jawbone fractures. We believe that keeping the intermaxillary fixation screws for a month is a wise choice to be prepared for unexpected needs.

The biomechanical stability of miniplate osteosynthesis configurations in bilateral mandibular angle fractures

PURPOSE

The present study investigated the biomechanical stability of three miniplate osteosynthesis configurations used for internal fixation of bilateral mandibular angle fracture (BMAF).

METHODS

Standard fracture lines were created in 72 polyurethane mandibles and stabilized with 2.0-mm, 4-hole standard titanium miniplates and monocortical screws. The group descriptions and miniplate configurations were: 2Plates (1-1), 3Plates (1-2) and 4Plates (2-2). The mandibles were subjected to either incisal or molar loads (from both sides in the 3Plates group) up to a force of 120 N. The displacements of the constructs were recorded at each force increment of 10 N. ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc tests were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

The 2Plates group showed higher displacement under both loading conditions (P < 0.05 for each). The same group reached displacement levels of 1 mm and 3 mm during molar loading and 1 mm, 3 mm, and 5 mm during incisal loading at lower force magnitudes relative to others (P < 0.05 for each).

CONCLUSION

Bone-plate constructs for BMAFs stabilized with three or four standard miniplates are more likely to provide similar resistance when subjected to incisal or molar loads, in contrast to the two-miniplate configuration, which is relatively more prone to displacement.

Tooth in the line of a mandibular fracture: Retain it or remove it? Clinical case report

Defining the prognosis and treatment plan for teeth in the line of a mandibular fracture is a challenge for the maxillofacial surgeon. The periodontal ligament may provide a communication with the oral cavity and become a pathway for infection. There is currently no consensus on the management of teeth in mandibular fracture lines. This report outlines a case where a tooth was successfully retained in the line of fracture as well as providing a review of the literature on the best-accepted treatments for this scenario.

Treatment of pediatric bilateral condylar fractures: A comprehensive analysis

Pediatric bilateral condylar fractures (PBCF) is a rare clinical pathology, where the management is carried out with both conservative and surgical approaches. The purpose of this study was to analyze and compare these two treatment approaches and their associated long term complications in PBCF. An extensive literature review- through the search of online databases- was conducted to survey, collect, analyze and compare the reported outcomes of different treatment modalities for PBCF. The number of studies presenting PBCF case reports was 16, while the number of such retrospective studies included here was 19. Analyses of these studies revealed that the conservative treatment is preferred in PBCF patients younger than 12 years of age. Moreover, a composite approach where the open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) is carried out for one side while the intermaxillary fixation (IMF) for the contralateral side is frequently reported for the management of PBCF cases; this approach appears effective in improving daily functioning of temporomandibular joint and reducing long term complications. Performing ORIF for one side while IMF for the contralateral side seems the most common treatment approach in PBCF. This study may help in rapid decision making for treatment selection of PBCF patients while minimizing the risk for late complications.

Experience Of Using Internal Fixation In The Treatment Of Patients With Inflammatory Complications Of Mandibular Fractures: A Retrospective Study

Study goal — To evaluate the efficacy of plate osteosynthesis in the treatment of patients with inflammatory complications of mandibular fractures on a large sample. Material and Methods — We conducted a retrospective analysis of medical records collected over 15 years in a group of patients with inflammatory complications of mandibular fractures. The analysis included medical records of patients who underwent plate osteosynthesis operations performed according to the surgical algorithm adopted in the clinic, in combination with a simultaneous directed antibacterial effect on the microflora of the pathological focus and osteoplastic replacement of defects. We identified 164 medical records meeting the search criteria distributed among two study groups. Group A included hospitalized patients with developed abscesses and phlegmons of soft tissues surrounding the fracture area. For them, two-stage surgical intervention was performed. Group B consisted of patients who had no suppurative process in soft tissues, which allowed them undergoing one-stage surgical treatment. Results — Good, satisfactory, and unsatisfactory surgical outcomes were obtained in 82.6%, 14.9%, and 2.4% of the patients, respectively. The differences between the comparison groups were not statistically significant. Conclusion — The clinical effectiveness of an integrated approach to the surgical treatment of patients with inflammatory complications of mandibular fractures, based on providing stable fixation of connected fragments as a critical factor in bone wound healing via osteosynthesis, was confirmed on large samples in both comparison groups.

Mandibular Fractures Epidemiology and Treatment Plans in the Center of Italy: A Retrospective Study

ABSTRACT

The epidemiology of maxillofacial fractures is variable in different geographic regions. Economic and social conditions, laws and types of behavior can be considered the most important factors influencing these differences.Mandibular fractures were first cited in 1650 BC in an Egyptian papyrus. Today, these fractures are one of the most prevalent facial skeletal injuries.A 4-year retrospective study was performed and the trauma - related data were collected from medical and radiological archives. The analysis comprised patients admitted for mandibular fracture at Sapienza University of Rome - Policlinico Umberto I between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2019. The data include age, sex, etiology, anatomical sites of the fractures, eventual maxillofacial associated fractures and treatment.We collected 172 patients, 138 males (80.2%) and 34 females (19.8%) with 270 mandibular fractures. The average age was 35.4 years. The youngest and oldest patients were aged 6 and 90 years, respectively. The age group 20 to 29 years was the most represented with 52 patients (30.2% of the total sample). Assaults were the most common etiology (n = 53, 30.8%), followed by falls (n = 45, 26.2%). The condyle was the most involved region (n = 86, 32%), followed by parasymphysis region (n = 72, 26.6%) and angle (n = 62, 23%).154 patients (89.5%) reported only mandibular fractures. Eighteen patients (10.5%) had other associated maxillofacial fractures; the most frequently encountered maxillofacial fractures associated with mandibular fractures were the zygomatic complex fractures (n = 9, 5.2%). Open reduction and internal fixation was the most preferred surgical treatment (n = 115, 66.9%).This study showed that mandibular fractures predominate in 20 to 29 years group and in the male sex. Assaults are the most frequent cause. The prevalent fracturing site is condylar process. Orbital - maxillary - zygomatic complex fractures were the most common associated maxillofacial fractures and open reduction and internal fixation was the preferred surgical strategy.The results of this analysis agree to other studies and provide important clinical information that will help in study of these injuries.

Is Outpatient Management of Mandibular Fractures Associated With Inflammatory Complications? An ACS-NSQIP Study

PURPOSE

Timing of mandibular fracture repair has long been debated. The purpose of the present study was to assess the incidence of postoperative inflammatory complications (POICs) following open repair of mandibular fractures managed non-urgently in the outpatient setting versus urgently in the inpatient setting.

METHODS

The authors utilized the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database to enroll a sample of patients with mandibular fractures who underwent open repair. The primary independent variable was treatment protocol: outpatient (elective) versus inpatient (urgent/non-elective). The primary dependent variable was POIC (yes/no). Descriptive, bivariate, and multiple logistic regression statistics were utilized to evaluate the relationship between treatment protocol and POICs.

RESULTS

The study cohort was comprised of 1,848 subjects with 1,134 outpatients and 714 inpatients. The incidence of POICs was 6.53% for the outpatient group compared to 8.96% for the inpatient group, with no significant difference between groups (P= .052). However, subjects treated as inpatients were 1.51 times more likely to experience any complication (P = .008) due to an increase in non-POICs (P = .028), in particular urinary tract infections (P = .035). After adjusting for age, hypertension requiring medical treatment, and smoking, classification as ASA II (P = .046, OR = 2.21, 95% CI 1.01 to 4.83), ASA III (P = .020, OR = 2.88, 95% CI 1.18 to 7.02), diabetes (P = 0.004, OR = 3.11, 95% CI 1.43 to 6.74), and preoperative hematocrit (P = 0.010, OR = 0.950, 95% CI 0.913 to 0.988) were independent predictors of POICs. Length of stay was 0.83 ± 2.61 days compared to 2.36 ± 3.63 days for the outpatient and inpatient groups, respectively (P ≤ .001).

CONCLUSIONS

There was no significant difference in POICs between patients treated as outpatients versus inpatients, though outpatients had fewer non-POICs and a shorter length of hospital stay.

Surgical Management of Bilateral Mandibular Angle Fractures With a Third Molar in Line of Fracture: A European Multicenter Survey

PURPOSE

The aim of this survey was to investigate the surgical management of bilateral mandibular angle fracture (BMAF) in Europe.

METHODS

Data were collected from 2008 to 2018 on patients ≥ 16 years of age who underwent open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) for BMAF with a third molar in the fracture line. The study was conducted at 6 European trauma centers. The following data were recorded: sex, age, cause of the fracture, type of fracture (nondisplaced, displaced, comminuted), type of approach (intraoral, transbuccal, or extraoral), thickness of the plate (≤1.4 mm or ≥1.5 mm), number of plates, cause of plate removal, and third molar extraction status.

RESULTS

25 patients with BMAF (24 males, 1 female, 17 to 83 years old [mean: 28.2 years]) were collected. The main cause of BMAF was assault, and the main surgical approach was intraoral. The most common types of BMAF were displaced + undisplaced (11 patients), displaced + displaced (7 patients), undisplaced + undisplaced (6 patients), and comminuted + comminuted (1 patient). Osteosynthesis was performed with 2 ≤1.4 mm plates on 1 angular fracture and 1 ≤1.4 mm plate on the other fracture in 11 patients, 1 ≤1.4 mm plate on both angular fractures in 6 patients, 1 ≥1.5 mm plate on both fractures in 5 patients, and 2 ≤1.4 mm plates on both fractures in the remaining 3 patients. Out of 25 patients with BMAF, 7 third molars were extracted during ORIF. Among these patients, angular fracture fixation was performed in 3 cases with 1 ≥1.5 mm plate and in 4 patients with 2 ≤1.4 mm plates.

CONCLUSIONS

This retrospective multicenter survey indicates a trend of treating with open reduction and rigid internal fixation at least 1 angular fracture of BMAF and those cases requiring extraction of the third molar in the line of fracture.

Combination of Rigid and Nonrigid Fixation Versus Nonrigid Fixation for Bilateral Mandibular Fractures: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

PURPOSE

We aimed to compare complication rates and functional outcomes in patients with bilateral mandibular fractures treated with different degrees of internal fixation rigidity.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This international, multicenter randomized controlled trial included adults with bilateral mandibular fractures located at either the angle and body, angle and symphysis, or body and symphysis. Patients were treated with either a combination of rigid fixation for the anterior fracture and nonrigid fixation for the posterior fracture (mixed fixation) or nonrigid fixation for both fractures. The primary outcome was complications within 6 weeks after surgery. Secondary outcomes were complications within 3 months, Helkimo dysfunction index, and mandibular mobility at 6 weeks and 3 months after surgery.

RESULTS

Of the 315 patients enrolled, 158 were randomized to the mixed fixation group and 157 to the nonrigid fixation group. The overall complication rate at 6 weeks in the intention-to-treat population was 9.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.3% to 15.6%) in the mixed fixation group and 7.8% (95% CI, 4.0% to 13.5%) in the nonrigid fixation group. With an unadjusted odds ratio of 1.25 (95% CI, 0.51 to 3.17), there were no statistically significant differences in complication rates between the 2 groups (P = .591). A multivariable model for complication risk at 6 weeks found no significant differences between treatment groups, but patients with moderate or severe displacement had a higher complication rate than those with no or minimal displacement (adjusted odds ratio, 4.58; 95% CI, 1.16 to 18.06; P = .030). There were no significant between-group differences in complication rates at 3 months. Moreover, no significant differences in Helkimo dysfunction index and mandibular mobility index at 6 weeks and 3 months were found between groups according to treatment allocated and treatment received.

CONCLUSIONS

A combination of rigid and nonrigid fixation in patients with bilateral mandibular fracture has similar complication rates and functional outcomes to nonrigid fixation for both fractures.