title: Width-Controlling Fixation of Symphyseal/Parasymphyseal Fractures Associated With Bilateral Condylar Fractures With 2 2.0-mm Miniplates: A Retrospective Investigation of 45 Cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Symphyseal and parasymphyseal fractures and bilateral condylar fractures represent a pattern that is quite challenging to manage. This study evaluated the treatment outcomes of a group of patients who underwent surgery using miniplate fixation for anterior mandibular fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective case series study reviewed patients with bilateral condylar fractures and noncomminuted symphyseal and parasymphyseal fractures. The patients were surgically treated from 2008 to 2014 in the department of oral surgery. Evaluation of facial width control was considered the primary outcome variable, which consisted of clinical assessment and measurement of the lingual gap using computed tomography. Medical information was collected before surgery. Temporomandibular joint function and postoperative complications also were evaluated during follow-up. A paired sample t test was used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-five patients (37 male, 8 female; mean age, 34.8 ± 14.5 yr; range, 16 to 74 yr) were included in this study. Lingual gaps measured before surgery (3.38 ± 0.61 mm) and after surgery (0.64 ± 0.14 mm) were significantly different (P < .001). No patient was rated as "unsatisfactory" after esthetic evaluation of facial width.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For noncomminuted symphyseal and parasymphyseal fractures associated with bilateral condylar fractures, 2 2.0-mm miniplates with monocortical screws are stable and efficacious in controlling mandibular width when bilateral condylar fractures are anatomically reduced and stably fixated.
authors.affiliation: Attending, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Shuo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, China. Electronic address: zhangyi2000@263.net.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jin-Gang
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: Attending, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D004954:Esthetics; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008904:Miniaturization; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000502:physiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult