• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.167-173
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• 2023

Background: Mandibular split fractures, in which the fracture occurs exclusively in the posterior wall, are uncommon. This study aimed to enhance clinicians' understanding of mandibular split fractures and offer insights for future research. Methods: This study included six patients who visited our hospital between January 2020 and June 2023 and were diagnosed with mandibular split fractures. We retrospectively collected data from patients' medical records on their age, sex, symptoms, mechanism, impact site, associated injuries, and treatment method, as well as the location, pattern, and number of fractures observed on computed tomography (CT) and panoramic images. The frequency of split fractures among all mandibular fractures was calculated. Results: The six patients included three men (50%) and three women (50%), ranging in age from 20 to 71 years (mean age, 49.8 years). The split fractures were located in the symphysis in one patient (16.7%), symphysis to parasymphysis in two patients (33.3%), parasymphysis in one patient (16.7%), and parasymphysis to the body in two patients (33.3%). Four patients (66.7%) had condylar head fractures, while two patients (33.3%) had single split fractures. The mechanism of trauma was a slip-down incident in four cases (66.7%), while two cases (33.3%) were caused by motorcycle traffic accidents. Four patients (67%) underwent intermaxillary fixation, while two patients (33%) improved with conservative treatment. Split fractures were diagnosed in all six patients on CT, whereas the fracture line was not clearly visible on panoramic images. Mandibular split fractures accounted for 5.6% of all mandibular fractures. Conclusion: This study provides insights into the clinical characteristics of rare mandibular split fractures and the diagnostic imaging findings. Furthermore, CT scans and three-dimensional image synthesis-instead of panoramic images-may be essential for accurately diagnosing mandibular fractures, including mandibular split fractures, in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.269-274
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• 2018

Objectives: The incidence and patterns of mandibular fractures vary by country and population age. This retrospective study evaluated the etiologies and patterns of mandibular fractures in children. Materials and Methods: The clinical records of 89 children (45 males and 44 females) aged 0 to 12 years who presented with mandibular fractures from July 2012 to June 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. The sex, patient age, site of fracture, etiology of trauma, and monthly variations of the fractures were recorded. Descriptive statistics, the z-test and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis and the P-value was set at <0.05. Results: Eighty-nine children (male-to-female ratio 1.02:1) sustained 131 mandibular fractures. Within the study sample, the 6 to 9 year age group most frequently experienced fractures (47.3%). Falls and road traffic accidents (RTA) were the two most common etiological factors that accounted for 44.9% and 24.7% of cases. The condylar fracture was the most common anatomical location (38.9%) followed by the angle (20.6%), parasymphysis (18.3%), body (15.3%), and symphysis (5.3%). A single fracture (51.7%) was more common than multiple fractures (48.3%). The month-wise distribution of mandibular fractures was fairly constant. Conclusion: The condylar region was the most common anatomic site for fractures; in addition, a fall and RTA were the major etiological factors for mandibular fractures. A single fracture was observed in 51.7% of patients while multiple fracture lines accounted for 48.3% of cases.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2006

Mandibular fractures have higher incidence rate compared to facial bone fractures because of relatively prominent form. Specially, mandibular angle fractures were known as common fracture site because of morphological anatomic structure. The mandibular third molar appears to be the most frequent impacted tooth. The mandibular third molar have influence on mandibular angle fractures according to it's eruption state. Also, the mandibular angle fracture including the third molar may influence on post operative infection whether the third molar is in impacted or extracted state when reduction of fracture site is operated. The presence or absence and degree of impaction of the mandibular third molar were assessed for each patient and were related to the occurrence of the mandibular angle fracture. The extraction or non extraction of the mandibular third molar were related to the occurrence of the post operative infection in the reduction of mandibular angle fractures. In the presence of mandibular third molar, the possibility of mandibular angle fractures were relatively common. When viewing the mandibular third molar at occlusal plane, the possibility of mandibular angle fractures were high in the class C group. The possibility of mandibular angle fractures were high in the mesial angulation and partial impaction. There was a statistically significant difference(P<0.05). In complete erupted mandibular third molar, the possibility of post operative infection occurs quite often, but there was no statistical significant difference(P>0.05). In the extracted or non extracted of mandibular third molar, the post operative infection showed no statistical significant difference(P>0.05). With the results mentioned above, mandibular third molar was significantly more susceptible to mandibular angle fracture. In the reduction of mandibular angle fracture, it was recommended that mandibular third molar should be extracted especially in case of pericoronitis, periodontitis and other infections.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.207-213
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• 1998

Purpose : This study attempted to relate the incidence of fractures at the mandibular angle with the presence and state of eruption of lower third molars, and to find out the real risk factors for angle fractures in the states of lower third molars. Materials and Methods : Medical records and radiographs of 395 patients with mandibular fractures were retrospectively reviewed. The presence and states of third molars were assessed for each patients and related to the occurrence of angle and other mandibular fractures. Results : Of 395 patients with mandibular fractures, 142 had angle fractures. The incidence of angle fractures was found to be significantly greater when partial erupted lower third molars were present and it had a definite role for risk factors for angle fractures. But there were no clear relationship between the incidence of angle fracrtures and states of without, fully erupted lower third molars. Furthermore, the states of patial and unerupted lower third molar had an effect on bony segment displacement. Conclusions : This study provides clinical evidence to suggest that patial erupted third molar teeth weaken the mandibular angle both quantitatively and qualitatively.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.93-98
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• 2009

Purpose: To classify and evaluate the mandibular fractures. Materials and Methods : The author classified the mandibular fractures of 284 patients who were referred to the Chonbuk National University Dental Hospital during the period from March 2004 to June 2007. This study was based on the conventional radiographs as well as computed tomographs which were pertained to the 284 patients who have had the mandibular fractures including the facial bone fractures. And mandibular fractures were classified with respect to gender, age, site and type of the fractures. Results: More frequently affected gender with mandibular fracture was male with the ratio of 3.3:1. The most frequently affected age with mandibular fracture was third decade (38%), followed by fourth decade (16%), second decade (15%), fifth decade (11 %), sixth decade (7%), seventh decade (5%), eighth decade (4%), first decade (4%), and ninth decade (0.3%). The most frequent type of mandibular fracture was single fracture (58%), followed by double fracture (39%), triple fracture (3%). The most common site of mandibular fracture was mandibular condyle as 113 cases (27.7%) and the next was mandibular symphysis as 109 cases (26.7%), mandibular angle as 103 cases (25.3%), mandibular body as 83 cases (20.3%) in order. The sum of fracture sites were 408 sites and there were 1.4 fracture sites per one patient. The number of mandible fractures accompanied with facial bone fractures were 41 cases (14.4%). Conclusion: The results showed the most frequent type and common site of mandibular fracture was single fracture and mandibular condyle respectively. (Korean J Oral Maxillofac Radiol 2009; 39: 93-8)

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.565-569
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of the presence and impacted state of the mandibular third molars on the incidence of mandibular condyle fracture. A retrospective study was designed for patients presenting to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital and Tae-gu Fatima Hospital for treatment of mandibular fractures from January 2003 to January 2006. The independent variables in this study were the presence, degree of impaction of third molars, and the outcome variables were the incidence of mandibular condyle fractures. Hospital charts and panoramic radiographs were used to determine and classify these variables. The demographic data included age, sex, mechanisms of injuries and number of mandibular condyle fractures. The study sample comprised 136 mandibular condyle fractures in 105 patients. Result of this study demonstrated a statistically significant difference in ipsilateral condyle fractures and mandibular third molar absence(P=0.032) and bilateral condyle fractures without another fracture and mandibular third molar absence(P=0.028).

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.376-381
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• 2019

Background: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between third molar (M3) and mandibular fracture. Methods: Patients with unilateral mandibular angle or condyle fractures between 2008 and 2018 were evaluated retrospectively. Medical records were reviewed regarding the location of fractures, and panoramic radiographs were reviewed to discern the presence and position of ipsilateral mandibular third molars (M3). We measured the bony area of the mandibular angle (area A) and the bony area occupied by the M3 (area B) to calculate the true mandibular angle bony area ratio (area A-B/area A×100). Results: The study consisted of 129 patients, of which 60 (46.5%) had angle fractures and 69 (53.5%) had condyle fractures. The risk of angle fracture was higher in the presence of M3 (odds ratio [OR], 2.2; p< 0.05) and the risk of condyle fracture was lower in the presence of M3 (OR, 0.45; p< 0.05), than in the absence of M3. The risk of angle fracture was higher in the presence of an impacted M3 (OR, 0.3; p< 0.001) and the risk of condyle fracture was lower in the presence of an impacted M3 (OR, 3.32; p< 0.001), than in the presence of a fully erupted M3. True mandibular angle bony area ratio was significantly lower in the angle fractures than in the condyle fractures (p= 0.003). Conclusion: Angle fractures had significantly lower true mandibular angle bony area ratios than condyle fractures. True mandibular angle bony area ratio, a simple and inexpensive method, could be an option to predict the mandibular fracture patterns.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.190-193
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• 2018

Background: This study was conducted to determine the effect of the distributional relationship between dental roots and the mandibular bone on single mandibular bone fractures, which are common craniofacial fractures. Methods: This was a retrospective, single-center study in Seoul, Korea. Patients with single mandibular fractures in the symphysis, parasymphysis, body, and angle area, with tooth structure involvement were included. The control group included patients with simple, bone-level lacerations without fractures. In total, 94 patients (72 males and 22 females) were included in the treatment group, and 125 (71 males and 54 females) were included in the control group. The height of the mandibular bone and the dental root were measured with panoramic radiography. The central incisor represented the symphysis area, the canine represented the parasymphysis area, the first molar represented the body area, and the second molar represented the angle area. Results: In the treatment group, symphysis fractures occurred in 16 patients (17%), parasymphysis fractures in 36 patients (38%), body fractures in 17 patients (18%), and angle fractures in 25 patients (27%). The ratios of the dental roots to the total height of the mandibular bone in the treatment group were 30.35%, 39.75%, 39.53%, and 36.27% for symphysis, parasymphysis, body, and angle areas, respectively, whereas in the control group, they were 27.73%, 39.70%, 36.76%, and 35.48%. The ratios of the treatment group were significantly higher than those of the control group. Conclusion: The results show that the higher ratio of the dental root to the height of the mandibular bone increases the fracture risk.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2010

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of panoramic radiographs for detection of mandibular fractures. Materials and Methods : The sample was comprised of 65 patients (55 fractured, 10 non-fractured) with 92 fracture sites confirmed by multi-detector computed tomography (CT). Panoramic radiographs were evaluated for mandibular fractures by six examiners; two oral & maxillofacial radiologists (observer A&B), two oral & maxillofacial surgeons (observer C&D), and two general dentists (observer E&F). Results : Sensitivity of panoramic radiography for mandibular fractures was 95.7% in observer A&B, 93.5% in observer C&D and 80.4% in observer E&F. The lowest sensitivity was shown in symphyseal/parasymphyseal areas, followed by subcondylar/condylar regions. Conclusion : Panoramic radiography is adequate for detection of mandibular fractures. However, additional multidetector CT is recommended to ascertain some indecisive fractures of symphysis and condyle, and in complicated fractures.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.73-75
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• 2017

The management of mandibular angle fractures is often challenging and results in the highest complication rate among fractures of the mandible. In addition, the optimal treatment modality for angle fractures remains controversial. Traditional treatment protocols for angle fractures have involved rigid fixation with intraoperative maxillomandibular fixation (MMF) to ensure absolute stability. However, more recently, non-compression miniplates have gained in popularity and the use of absolute intraoperative MMF as an adjunct to internal fixation has become controversial. In this article, the history of, and current trends in, the treatment of mandibular angle fractures will be briefly reviewed. In addition, issues regarding the management of the third molar tooth will be discussed.