Assessment of Changes in Paraclinical Indexes Due to Intermaxillary Fixation: A Prospective Clinical Study

ABSTRACT

Background: One of the treatment modalities of mandibular and midface fracture is closed reduction with the use of intermaxillary fixation (IMF), in which the fractured segments are immobilized adjacent to each other and this procedure results in the reunion of the separated segments. It has been shown that there is a direct relation between nutrition and the healing process of the body therefore treatment with IMF could possibly affect the healing process. In this study, we evaluated the effects of IMF on paraclinical factors like protein profile and lipid profile which are markers for malnutrition condition, so further thoughts can be given to prevent malnutrition by using different supplements. Methods:30 Patients having mandibular fracture which needed closed treatment was selected for this study. All patients were treated with a 4 weeks period of IMF. Lipid profile factors [total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride (TG)] and protein profile factors [hemoglobin (Hb), albumin (Alb)] were measured before the start of IMF and after the 4 weeks period of IMF. Results: there occur decrease in the level of Alb and the reduction was statistically significant. There occur slight increase in Hb level at the end of treatment however the result was statistically insignificant. also there occur decrease in the level of TC, HDL, LDL and TG after the treatment but the result was statistically insignificant. Conclusion: it was concluded that treatment with IMF can result in malnutrition conditions although not severe. so when close reduction techniques are used as the treatment plan in maxillofacial region, a supplemental nutrition planning is very thoughtful thing to do.