title: Different surgical approaches for multiple fractured atrophic mandibles.
abstract: Atrophic edentulous mandible fractures in geriatric patients have low incidence but present several biological and biomechanical peculiarities that produce a nonunion rate of around 20%. Surgical extraoral approaches for internal fixation of these fractures can be transcervical or by one or two submandibular incisions. Two patients sustaining multiple fractures in atrophic edentulous mandible are presented: the first patient was 72-years-old, treated by two submandibular incisions, and the second was 81-years-old, treated by transcervical approach. We discuss the advantages and drawbacks of each approach and their indications according to the Luhr et al (1996) atrophy index.
authors.forename: Felipe Ladeira
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Walter Cristiano
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Gealh
authors.forename: Carlos Eduardo Braga
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: Liogi Iwaki
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Filho