title: Temperatures in and around mandibular fractures.
abstract: This study measured the temperature in and around mandibular fractures in 20 anaesthetized patients. A fine calibrated thermocouple attached to a digital thermometer was used to measure temperature at the bone surface margin of a mandibular fracture and 5 and 10 mm from the fracture; within the fracture against the bone at 5, 7 and 10 mm depths and at the base of 7 mm deep biopsy cavities 5 and 10 mm distant from the fracture line immediately after biopsy, then 1 and 2 min later. On the surface the temperature was approximately 1 degrees C warmer than at the 5 and 10 mm sites distant from the fracture. Temperature reduced at the 1 and 2 min readings after the biopsy cavity cutting. This study confirmed that the surface temperature is lower than internal bone temperatures.
authors.affiliation: Division of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kourie
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Volchansky
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Cleaton-Jones
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lownie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D013821:Thermometers