• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.260-264
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• 2010

Treatment of the mandibular fracture consists of reduction and fixation. The apparatus that is used to keep the jaws together during healing will often reduce the fracture as well. When the jaws are brought together and intermaxillary elastic rubber traction is placed, the occlusion of the teeth will help to orient the fractured parts into good position. Intermaxillary fixation, that is, fixation obtained by elastic bands between the upper & lower jaws to which suitable anchoring devices have been attached, will successfully treat most fractures of the mandible. Arch bars are perhaps the ideal method for intermaxillary fixation. Several types of ready-made arch bars are used. But, daily occupational life and oral hygiene is difficult to maintain during the period of longterm immobilized intermaxillary fixation (commonly 6-8 weeks), owing to malnutrition and emotional disorders in a position of the patient with mandibular fractures. Most mandibular fractures heal well enough to allow removal of fixation in about 6 weeks. Though there are many complications of mandibular fracture, such as infection, hemorrhage, trismus, paresthesia and nonunion, it is favorable to attain the short-term removable intermaxillary fixation care by use of an additive incision & drainage establishment on the oral lacerated wounds of adjacent mandibular compound fractures. The purpose of an additive incision & drainge establishment is the prevention of wound infection & nonunion by removing the hematoma & seroma in the fracture sites.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.570-575
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• 2001

This study evaluated the short-term outcome of treating fractures of the mandible with bioabsorbable plates. Thirty-four fractures of the mandible in 27 patients were treated by open reduction and internal fixation using bioabsorbable plates and 2.4-mm, 2.0-mm, and 1.5-mm pre-tapped screws. The duration of intermaxillary fixation ranged from 0 to 23 days, with a mean of 5.3 days. Patients were evaluated for complications during the follow-up period, which ranged from 2 to 18 months. Five patients(18.5%) experienced complications. These included infection (four patients), and premature occlusal contact(one patient). Except for one case, all complications were minor and adequately managed with incision and drainage, elastic traction, and medication. Delayed infection (osteomyelitis) developed in a symphysis fracture and was treated by saucerization and antibiotics. The fracture line subsequently showed complete consolidation. Bioabsorbable plates can be selectively used for internal fixation in mandibular fractures with the advantage that they do not need to be removed.