title: Complications of nonrigid fixation of mandibular angle fractures.
abstract: This retrospective study analyzed complications in 96 patients with 99 mandibular angle fractures treated during a 3-year period with either closed reduction or nonrigid means of fixation combined with maxillomandibular fixation. An overall complication rate of 17% occurred. Infection was the most common complication, occurring in 17 fractures. Thirteen fractures had infection as the only complication; in the remaining four patients, infection was combined with malunion/malocclusion. The results of this study show that mandibular angle fractures in an inner-city population are associated with a high incidence of postsurgical complications.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235-9031.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Passeri
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Sinn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001860:Bone Plates; D001864:Bone Wires; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000209:etiology; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology*; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology