title: Rigid fixation of mandibular fractures: does operator experience reduce complications?
abstract: Rigid internal fixation (RIF) is a frequently used method of reduction and immobilization of mandibular fractures. It has been postulated that the unexpectedly high complication rates reported in early studies of RIF were related to operator inexperience. The objective of this study was to determine if increased operator experience with RIF would result in a lower complication rate. Two 24-month patient care periods, separated by an intervening 12 months to avoid overlap, were evaluated retrospectively. Group 1 (n = 69 patients) represented the early experience and group 2 (n = 76 patients) the more recent data. The results of the study demonstrate a downward trend in the complication rate as surgeon experience increased. This improvement, however, was not statistically significant, and other factors may play a more important role in reducing complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0440.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Kearns
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Perrott
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Kaban
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000209:etiology; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors