EXPERIENCE WITH miniplate osteosynthesis in THE MANAGEMENT OF mandibular fractures IN NORTHWEST NIGERIA.
BACKGROUND
Fractures of the mandible are the commonest facial fractures and various treatment modalities exist like wire osteosynthesis and the use of miniplates and screw with most of the industrially developed world leaning towards the use of miniplates in the treatment of these fractures. The use has however been limited in developing countries (including Nigeria) mostly due to the cost of the plates and screws.


OBJECTIVE
To identify the versatility of miniplates in the treatment of mandibular fractures at a tertiary care centre in a developing country.


METHODS
All Subjects aged 16 years and above in whom mandibular fractures were diagnosed were recruited over a two year period. Patients were treated under general anesthesia using either the miniplates and screws or wire osteosynthesis while some patients had both miniplates and maxillo-maxillary fixation.


RESULTS
A total of 94 patients were recruited for the study of which 89.4% were males while the age group 16 to 25 years constituted the majority. Though 29.8% of the study population was involved in business, only 9.6 % were professional motorcyclists. Motorcycle-related road traffic crashes constituted the commonest aetiologic agent with 41.5%, while combination fractures were the commonest fracture types seen in 54.3% of the study participants. Of the 94 patients, 77.7% had treatment of mandibular fractures by open reduction and immobilization with mini plates, while 7.4% had mini plates with Maxillo-maxillary fixation and 14.9% had wire osteosynthesis only. The site of fracture was significantly associated with the treatment modality (p= 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed that the choice of fixation appliances in mandibular fractures was influenced by the number of fractures and the multiplicity of fracture sites. Miniplates offered functionally stable fixation with minimum complications.
Department of Dental and Maxillofacial Surgery,Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria.
B I
BI
Akhiwu
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria.
A A
AA
Efunkoya
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria.
K U
KU
Omeje
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria.
I O
IO
Amole
Department of Dental Surgery, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria.
D O
DO
Osunde
Department of Physiotherapy, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria.
L
L
Isa
Mandibular fractures; Miniplates; Osteosynthesis; Versatility