POSTOPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH MANDIBULAR ANGLE FRACTURE, TREATED BY SINGLE PLATE

Abstract

Mandible fracture is common fracture of facial bones due to its angular exposure. In 1060s Vitallium compression plating was introduced to manage mandibular fractures. But management of this fracture site is not free of postoperative complications. Purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of postoperative complications in patients with mandibular angle fracture, treated by single plate.

Study was case series and completed in six months from January 2017 to June 2018 in the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery, Nishtar Institute of Dentistry, Multan. A total of 52 patients were included in the study after ethical approval from the ethical committee of the hospital. Main outcome variables assessed in this study were infection rate and non union after surgery of mandible fracture. Computor software SPSS was used to analyze study data.

Thirty patients forming 57.7% had a mandibular angle fracture of left side, 22 an angle fracture right side forming 42.3%. Infection was present in 5 patients of total 52 patients while in 47 patients fracture healing occurred without infection. Infection rate was 9.6%. Non union was present in 2 patients. In 50 patients fracture healing occurred without non union.

Use of a single miniplate for fractures of the angle of the mandible is a simple, reliable technique with a relatively small number of complications.