Reconstruction plates used in the surgery for mandibular discontinuity defect

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to analyze the survival rate of reconstruction plates that were used to correct mandibular discontinuity defects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed clinical and radiological data of 36 patients. Only discontinuous mandibular defect cases were included in the study. Reconstruction plate survival rate was analyzed according to age, gender, location of defect, defect size, and whether the patient underwent a bone graft procedure, coronoidectomy, and/or postoperative radiation therapy (RT). RESULTS: Plate-related complications developed in 8 patients, 7 of which underwent plate removal. No significant differences were found in plate survival rate according to age, gender, location of defect, defect size, or whether a bone graft procedure was performed. However, there were differences in the plate survival rate that depended on whether the patient underwent coronoidectomy or postoperative RT. In the early stages (9.25+/-5.10 months), plate fracture was the most common complication, but in the later stages (35.75+/-17.00 months), screw loosening was the most common complication. CONCLUSION: It is important to establish the time-related risk of complications such as plate fracture or screw loosening. Coronoidectomy should be considered in most cases to prevent complications. Postoperative RT can affect the survival rate and hazard rate after a reconstruction plate is fitted.

Maxillofacial Trauma Trends at a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Retrospective Study / 대한악안면성형재건외과학회지

PURPOSE: Maxillofacial fractures are rapidly increasing from car accidents, industrial accidents, teenaged criminal activity, and sports injuries. Accurate assessment, appropriate diagnosis, and preparing individual treatment plans are necessary to reduce surgical complications. We investigated recent trends of facial bone fracture by period, cause, and type, with the objective of reducing surgical complications. METHODS: To investigate time trends of maxillofacial fractures, we reviewed medical records from 2,196 patients with maxillofacial fractures in 1981~1987 (Group A), 1995~1999 (Group B), and 2008~2012 (Group C). We analyzed each group, comparing the number of patients, sex ratio, age, fracture site, and etiology. RESULTS: The number of patients in each period was 418, 516, and 1,262 in Groups A to C. Of note is the increase in the number of patients from Group A to C. The sex ratios were 5.6:1, 3.5:1, and 3.8:1 in Groups A, B, and C. The most affected age group for fracture is 20~29 in all three groups. Traffic accidents are the most common cause in Groups A and B, while there were somewhat different causes of fracture in Group C. Sports-induced facial trauma was twice as high in Group C compared with Group A and B. Mandible fracture accounts for a large portion of facial bone fractures overall. CONCLUSION: We observed an increase in facial bone fracture patients at Kyungpook National University Dental Hospital over the years. Although facial injury caused by traffic accidents was still a major cause of facial bone fracture in all periods, the percentage decreased. In recent years, isolated mandible fracture increased but mandible and mid-facial complex fracture decreased, possibly because of a reduction in traffic accidents.

Anatomical and Functional Recovery of Intracapsular Fractures of the Mandibular Condyle: Analysis of 124 Cases after Closed Treatment / 대한악안면성형재건외과학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of intracapsular fracture lines of the mandibular condyle on the anatomical and functional recovery after non-surgical closed treatment. METHODS: Clinical and radiological follow-up of 124 patients with intracapsular fractures of the mandibular condyle was performed after closed treatment between 2005 and 2012. The intracapsular fractures were classified into three categories: type A (medial condylar pole fracture), type B (lateral condylar pole fracture with loss of vertical height) and type M (multiple fragments or comminuted fracture). RESULTS: By radiological finding, fracture types B and M lost up to 24% vertical height of the mandibular condyle compared to the height on the opposite side. In Type M, moderate to severe dysfunction was observed in 33% of the cases. Bilateral fractures were significantly associated with the risk of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction in fracture types A and B. Bilateral fracture and TMJ dysfunction were not statistically significantly associated in type M fractures. CONCLUSION: Most of the mandibular intracapsular condylar fractures recovered acceptably after conservative non-surgical treatment with functional rehabilitation, even with some anatomical shortening of the condylar height. The poor functional recovery encountered in type M fractures, especially in cases with additional fracture sites and bilateral fractures, points up the limitation of closed treatment in such cases.