title: The management of unstable oblique infected mandibular fractures with a 2.3 mm mandibular osteosynthesis reconstruction bone plate.
abstract: This study is aimed to evaluate the efficacy of 2.3mm reconstruction bone plates in the treatment of unstable infected mandibular fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 32 patients with unstable oblique infected mandibular fractures (23 males and 9 females), with a mean age of 33 years. The patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 were treated with an osteosynthesis plate (with at least 3 screws on each side of fracture sites) applied to the mandibular fracture site, while in group 2 the bone plate was applied (2 screws on each side of fracture sites) with maxillomandibular fixation (MMF). Clinical and radiographic examinations were carefully assessed preoperatively and postoperatively at follow-up intervals of 1, 2, 6, 12 months. Postoperative complications in terms of dysocclusion, wound dehiscence and neurosensory disturbances were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postoperative clinical and radiographic results showed that group 1 had quicker bone generation and more precise anatomical alignment of fracture sites than with those in group 2. All patients showed no evidence of infection, plate fracture or exposure, malunion, osteomyelitis, neurosensory disturbances, or dental injury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 2.3mm reconstruction bone plates provide excellent stability and healing of the unstable infected mandibular fractures provided that the fracture site is fixed by at least 3 screws on each side of the fracture sites.
authors.affiliation: Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Faculty of Dentistry, King Khaled University, Saudi Arabia. walid_dent@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Walid A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Ghanem
authors.forename: Khaled A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Elhayes
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D006987:Hypesthesia / Q000209:etiology; D019248:Jaw Fixation Techniques; D008297:Male; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D014025:Titanium