title: Rigid internal fixation of mandibular fractures. An analysis of 270 fractures treated using the AO/ASIF method.
abstract: The results are reported on 214 patients treated for 270 mandibular fractures, using rigid internal fixation. Of these, 172 fractures (63.7%) in 131 patients had been re-evaluated at final follow-up in connection with plate and screw removal, on average 15.2 months, postoperatively. Although one-third of the patients had a history of alcohol abuse, and 86% were treated with a delay of more than 24 h (mean 3.2 days), good primary bone healing was observed in 93.9% of the patients. Infections, seen in 6.1% of the patients, were related exclusively to inadequate stability of the fracture. Malocclusion, observed in 18.2% of 159 dentate patients, was caused by incorrect plate bending and insufficient fracture reduction. Immediate postoperative dysfunction of the inferior alveolar nerve in 58.1% of the cases, and of the mandibular branch of the facial nerve in 12.7%, was followed by almost total recovery 1 year after operation. It is concluded that rigid internal fixation is a reliable method of treatment, especially indicated for patients with reduced healing capacity and poor co-operation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iizuka
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lindqvist
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology; D001860:Bone Plates / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001863:Bone Screws / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D003389:Cranial Nerve Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000453:epidemiology; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012677:Sensation; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome