Lag screw fixation of anterior mandibular fractures: a retrospective analysis of intraoperative and postoperative complications.
OBJECTIVE
To review, retrospectively, the outcomes of 102 patients who underwent lag screw technique fixation of fractures of the anterior mandible.


METHODS
A total of 102 consecutive, skeletally mature patients who have undergone open reduction internal fixation for fractures of the anterior mandible utilizing the lag screw technique were reviewed. All patients had a clinically mobile fracture between the mental foramina of the mandible. The patients were followed at usual postoperative intervals with shortest long-term follow-up of 2 months. Intraoperative and long-term postoperative outcomes including status of union, infection, and intraoperative surgical misadventure were recorded.


RESULTS
Data from the 102 patients showed that there was 1 fixation failure due to inappropriate patient selection, 1 nonunion requiring bone grafting, 1 with infected screws but with union, 1 with an infected screw and delayed union treated conservatively, and 6 with broken drills from intraoperative surgical misadventures.


CONCLUSIONS
Lag screw osteosynthesis of anterior mandibular fractures is a sensitive, facile, predictable, and relatively inexpensive method for internal fixation of indicated fractures. As with all methods of rigid internal fixation, most failures or complications are the result of operator judgment or technique.
Tiwana
Paul S
PS
Pediatric Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kosair Children's Hospital, School of Dentistry, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA. paul.tiwana@louisville.edu
Kushner
George M
GM
Alpert
Brian
B
D001863:Bone Screws / Q000009:adverse effects; D002680:Chin / Q000293:injuries; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000293:injuries; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome