Frequency of Infection after Extraction of Involved Third Molar in Mandibular Angle Fractures Treated with Rigid Fixation

Abstract

Abstract Objective: To determine the frequency of post-ope-rative infection in patients with mandibular angle fra-ctures treated with rigid fixation after extraction of in-volved third molar. Materials and Methods: In a total of 100 patients undergoing open reduction and internal fixation of mandibular angle fractures in which involved third molar will be extracted were included from Depart-ment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Mayo Hos-pital, Lahore. Procedure was performed by the same consultant and post operatively patients were assessed by two post graduate trainees who were trained previously to check Infection, on 1 st , 2 nd ,4 th and 6 th weeks post operatively. All the observations were entered on preformed proforma. Data was entered & analyzed by using SPSS version 10.0 Results: According to this study, the mean age of patients was 33.22 + 9.155 years. Minimum and maxi-mum age of patients was 18 years and 50 years with range of 32 years. There were 83 (83.0%) male pati-ents while only 17 (17%) female patients presented with mandibular angle fractures. The rate of infection at week 1 was higher [9 (9.0%) cases], but gradually decreased in next follow up. 8 (8.0%) at 2nd week, 7 (7.0%) at week 4 and only 6 (6.0%) in last follow up at week 6 after open reduction and internal fixation of mandibular angle fractures with extraction of third molar. Conclusion: The frequency of post-operative infection in patients with mandibular angle fractures treated with rigid fixation after extraction of third molar was 30% at different follow ups in which 9% patients had infection at first week, 8 patients had at 2 nd week, 7 patients had at 6th week and 6% patients presented with infection at last follow up. Overall the infection rate is lower in patients with mandibular angle fractu-res treated with rigid fixation after extraction of third molar. Key words: Angle mandibular fracture, third molar and maxillofacial infection.