Use of an orthopaedic fixator for external fixation of the mandible.
A patient presented with a chronically infected, non-united fracture of the mandible, with considerable bone loss. He was treated with a metacarpal fixator, the miniPennig external fixator. The fixator is stable and smaller than conventional mandibular fixators. It can be applied and removed under local anaesthesia, if necessary, requires little maintenance and produces minimal scarring. The successful outcome in this patient is encouraging and we commend the use of the fixator in similar difficult cases.
Holmes
S
S
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, London, UK.
Hardee
P
P
Anand
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001860:Bone Plates / Q000009:adverse effects; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004867:Equipment Design; D016267:External Fixators; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000601:surgery*; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009984:Orthopedic Fixation Devices; D010020:Osteonecrosis / Q000601:surgery; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D005839:Gentamicins; D010406:Penicillins; D008795:Metronidazole; D000658:Amoxicillin