title: Management of Mandibular Fractures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the cases of mandibular fractures treated by open reduction and rigid fixation at the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and thirteen mandibular fractures cases were treated by open reduction and rigid fixation from Jun 1998 to Jun 2006. These were retrospectively analyzed based on the following patient related factors i.e. mode of injury, age and sex distribution, site of injury, associated injuries and surgical treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The significant finding was that the most common etiology for fracture mandible was road traffic accidents (RTA), [196 (92%)]. Of the patients who reported, 147 (95.4%) were males in the third decade of life. 96 (45%) patients had parasymphysis fractures, 65 (30.5%) had angle fractures, 33 (15%) subcondylar fractures, 17 (7.9%) body fractures and 2(0.9%) had ramus fracture. Early intervention using open reduction and internal fixation was the protocol followed which resulted in minimum morbidity and complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As RTA especially two wheelers accidents appeared to be the most common cause of mandibular fractures, use of suitably designed protective head gear (crash helmets) is advisable. Moreover open reduction and rigid internal fixation appears to be the suitable treatment modality in successful treatment of mandibular fractures in reducing morbidity and complications and ensuring early return to normalcy.
authors.affiliation: Senior Specialist (Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery), AFDC, New Delhi.
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Thapliyal
authors.affiliation: Professor & Head, Department of Dental Surgery, AFMC, Pune-40.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sinha
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor (Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery), Department of Dental Surgery, AFMC, Pune-40.
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Menon
authors.affiliation: Resident (Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery), Department of Dental Surgery, AFMC, Pune-40.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chakranarayan
keywords: Mandibular fracture; Parasymphysis; Road traffic accident