title: Treatment of mandibular fractures. Need for rigid internal fixation.
abstract: The treatment of 200 mandibular fractures was evaluated retrospectively with special reference to the need for rigid internal fixation (AO-plating), as indicated by the ASIF organization. It was shown that the treatment was most typically intermaxillary fixation (50%) followed by Gunning-type splints (17%), wire (16%) and plate (6%) osteosynthesis, while 11% received no active treatment. Complications during splinting were most common among patients treated by osteosynthesis via an extra-oral approach. Most of the fractures (73%) were estimated to be anatomically suitable for AO-plating. One fifth (22%) had relative indications for the use of rigid internal fixation, and 59% had absolute indications, mostly due to simultaneous condylar and corpus (body) fractures or due to fractures in the angle region.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Oral Surgery, Institute of Dentistry, University of Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oikarinen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Altonen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kauppi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Laitakari
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001860:Bone Plates; D001864:Bone Wires; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous; D008297:Male; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013165:Splints