title: Fracture of the atrophic mandible: case series and critical review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Atrophic mandible fracture is common among elderly patients. Such fractures present management difficulties related to anatomic and physiologic alterations in this population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of this type of fracture treatment and to realize a critical review of literature on the subject.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample was obtained from records of patients of Restauração Hospital (Recife, Brazil) who underwent surgical treatment of atrophic mandible fracture between 2006 and 2009. Data, such as etiology, location, and degree of displacement of the fractures, as well as access, type of fixation used, and the presence of postoperative complications, were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Successful bone union was achieved in 100% of cases. Complications were related to those patients treated with reconstruction plates (2.4 mm).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Open reduction and internal fixation with miniplates seem a feasible option for primary treatment of atrophic mandible fractures without comminution or loss of substance. The level of scientific evidence for the treatment of atrophic mandible fractures is low.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Auremir Rocha
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.forename: Suzana Célia
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: de Aguiar Soares Carneiro
authors.forename: Jefferson Luiz Figueiredo
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Leal
authors.forename: Belmiro Cavalcanti do Egito
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Vasconcelos
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001284:Atrophy; D001860:Bone Plates; D020878:Device Removal; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000473:pathology*; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology