[Atrophy of the mandible and maxilla as complication of treatment and healing of jaw fractures]. / Zanik zuchwy i szczeki jako powiklanie leczenia i gojenia ich zlaman.

The authors discuss in the light of literature data the causes of bone atrophy and report two own cases of extensive atrophy of the mandible and atrophy of the maxilla developed during treatment of their fractures. Parallel mandibular atrophy in a patient aged 67 years was observed 3 years after surgical union of fractured fragments of the edentulous mandible with metal plates. The cause of atrophy is related by the authors to prolonged malnutrition of the patient who had partial gaestrectomy 24 years earlier, and his failure to observe the suggested mandible immobilization during the required length of time. Considerable degree of maxilla atrophy in a 34-year-old man developed during treatment of a Le Fort III maxilla fracture. The atrophy affected mainly the apical base of the alveolar process, and it was observed 4 months after fracture. The cause was not systematic, prolonged without informing the stomatologist, and excessive traction was exerted by the rubber band in the chin-sling used for the treatment of the fracture. The treatment used in this case permitted to restore in the maxilla the proportions of bone structures approaching the normal ones.