Wire-free fixation of jaw fractures.
Stainless steel wire is often used in the management of jaw fractures to provide intraoperative or postoperative intermaxillary fixation (IMF). Wiring of the jaws is time-consuming, a second procedure is needed to remove it, and needlestick injuries occur during placement. We report on 151 consecutive patients who had wire-free fixation of jaw fractures, and outline the value of a system of plastic anchorage points applied to individual teeth in both jaws that allows for wire-free IMF when they are linked by elastics (Rapid IMF, Synthes, PA, USA). A total of 150 successive patients had wire-free fixation of 146 mandibular and 5 maxillary fractures. Ninety-eight were hand-held in occlusion, and 52 were treated using Rapid IMF. There were few complications.
Cousin
G C S
GC
East Lancashire Maxillofacial Service, East Lancashire NHS Trust, Royal Blackburn Hospital, Haslingden Road, Blackburn BB2 3HH, UK. Gary.Cousin@elht.nhs.uk
D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D001860:Bone Plates; D001864:Bone Wires; D004867:Equipment Design; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005882:Gingival Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D019248:Jaw Fixation Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007572:Jaw Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000209:etiology; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000601:surgery; D008440:Maxillary Fractures / Q000601:surgery; D009757:Nylons / Q000737:chemistry; D019226:Oral Ulcer / Q000209:etiology; D010969:Plastics / Q000737:chemistry; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000209:etiology; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D009757:Nylons; D010969:Plastics; D014025:Titanium