title: Treatment of patients with double unilateral fractures of the mandible.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the outcomes of treatment for double unilateral mandibular fracture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart review of patients who were treated between 1994 and 2004 for 2 mandibular fractures on the same side of the mandible. Data collected involved age, gender, race, cause of fracture, treatment modality, length of follow-up, occlusal relationship at last visit, preoperative and postoperative clinical photographs and radiographs, and incidence and management of complications. Standard descriptive statistics were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From a total of 1,287 mandibular fractures for which charts were available, 31 double unilateral mandibular fractures were treated during a 10-year period, for an occurrence rate of 2.4%. Demographic characteristics of these patients were similar to those of patients in other published studies on mandibular fracture. Fractures involved angle + body (18/31, 58%), condyle + body (11/31, 35%), and condyle + angle (2/31, 6%). Various treatments were provided for these fractures, but open reduction and internal fixation were applied to at least 1 of the fractures. Follow-up ranged from 6 weeks to 5 months (average, 9.6 weeks). Eight patients (8/31, 25.8%) developed complications involving visible gonial flaring; 3 of these also had cross-bite.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Double unilateral mandibular fracture is a rare event. The difficulty inherent in treating these fractures can be alleviated with the use of proper techniques of open reduction and internal fixation; however, treatment continues to be associated with a high complication rate.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Cillo
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ellis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D009104:Multiple Trauma; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011859:Radiography; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies