MANDIBULAR SYMPHYSIS FRACTURES

Abstract

Introduction: Mandible is one of the most commonly fractured bones inmaxillofacial trauma. Mandibular symphysis is a common site of mandibular fractures. Compareto conventional miniplates, three dimentional plates were found more effective in terms of postoperative occlusion, post operative mobility of reduced fractured segments and the degree ofanatomic reduction. Objectives: Compare the conventional 2.0mm mini plates versus 3D miniplates in the fixation of isolated mandibular symphysis fractures. Study Design: Interventionalstudy. Setting: Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital Karachi.Period: Two years from 1st January 2013 to 2nd January 2015. Material & Methods: Onehundred and fifty four patients were randomly selected and allocated into two groups. Group‘I’in which patients were treated with conventional mini plates and group‘II’ where patients weretreated with 3D mini plates. Results: Mean (+SD) age of patients was 29.53 (±7.88) years.Among 154 patients in this study, majority (75.3%) of cases had age 20 - 35 years. Majority,124 (81.2)were males and 29 (18.8%) were females. In Group I, anatomic reduction at 3 monthpost-operative was observed in 30 (39%). In Group II (3D Plates) at 3 months post-operatively,ideal molar relationship was higher (89.6% Vs. 98.7%; p-value = 0.016), fracture mobility waslower (14.3% Vs. 2.6%; p-value = 0.009) and higher anatomic reduction. Conclusion: Threedimensional miniplates are more effective compared to conventional miniplates.