Mandibular Neck Fractures Research Articles

Complication rates of operatively treated mandibular fractures—the mandibular neck

Surgical treatment of mandibular neck fractures is frequently associated with postoperative complications. This study aims at an in-depth analysis of complication rates of surgically treated mandibular neck fractures. All treated patients (264 male, 103 female patients, with 429 mandibular neck fractures) of the Vienna University Clinic of Maxillofacial Surgery in the period of 1995 to 2005 with at least 1 mandibular neck fracture were included. Of surgically treated fractures, 94.8% healed successfully after 1 open reduction, 4.4% had 2, and 0.8% had 3 open reductions. Osteosynthesis failure was 11.3% for 1 miniplate, 6.7% for 2 miniplates, and 8.5% for 1 lag screw. Of the surgically treated, 53 (21.3%) had 1 complication, 12 (4.8%) had 2, and 4 (1.6%) had 3 complications. Comparing isolated and mandibular neck fractures combined with other mandibular fractures the risk of suffering osteosynthesis failure is 3.59 in case of isolated (P = .004). Predominant causes of revision surgery are osteosynthesis failure, pseudarthrosis, and malposition.

A critical evaluation of the functional treatment of mandibular neck fractures in children. The results of a spiral computed tomographic follow-up

In this retrospective follow-up study after 6 months of treatment with functional appliance therapy of 12 children who had suffered condylar fractures, spiral CT was employed for the radiological examination with 2D and 3D reconstructions. Although all patients exhibited restoration of normal function, only 4 showed favorable remodeling. The other patients had developed 5 hypoplastic, 5 moderate and 5 severe deformed condyles. Seven condylar fragments were resorbed; 2 were uprighted; 4 had developed bony spurs and 3 neoarthrosis. The results revealed a fracture dependent remodeling. The authors discuss the etiology of the functional stimulated new bone formation of the condylar process. Excessive bone apposition as a reaction to the anterior shift of the mandible seems to play an important role during the overgrowth of the head of the condyle.