A comparisin of the Operative Results and Costs Between Interosseous Wiring and Miniplate Fixation in Open Reduction of Mandible Fracture

ABSTRACT

Mandible fractures have recently been managed by rigid internal fixation with miniplate and screws more often than by traditional interosseous wiring methods. The purpose of this paper was to compare traditional interosseous wiring with miniplate fixation in open reduction of mandible fracture, especKweonially in operative results and costs. From June of 1989 to June of 1998, there were 142 patients, admitted to the department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chun-Cheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University. Of those, 101 patients were managed by open reduction, and among them, 83 patients were treated with miniplate fixation, but 18 patients had recently been treated with interosseous wiring methods. No significant difference was noted between the two groups in terms of complications, but the overall cost of miniplate and screws was higher than interosseous wiring, while the mean operative time was longer in the group treated with miniplate fiation. The authors recommend interosseous wiring technique for patients with mandible fractures requiring open reduction and fixation, except for absolute indications of rigid internal fixation.