Infection rate in mandibular angle fractures treated with a 2.0-mm 8-hole curved strut plate.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

The aim of this study was to determine the rate of postoperative infection and the efficacy of removing teeth in the line of mandibular angle fractures treated with 2.0-mm 8-hole titanium curved strut plates. Our understanding is that this method of repair is currently being used only in a few centers in the United States.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A retrospective review of mandibular angle fractures treated with a 2.0-mm 8-hole strut plate during a 4-year period. Postoperative antibiotics were given for 1 week. Follow-up appointments were 4 weeks or longer. A nonchewing diet was instructed for 6 weeks. Data for all selected patients include the information such as age, gender, etiology of injuries, medical history, concurrent injuries, nerve deficits, pre- and postoperative antibiotic administration, postop infection, a presence or absence of teeth in the line of fractures, and whether these teeth were removed.

RESULTS:

Four patients (4 of 49 or 8.2%) developed infections. Two of those patients had a tooth in the line of a fracture that was retained (2 of 14 or 14%). The third had a tooth in the line of a fracture that was extracted (1 of 18 or 5.6%). The fourth patient was 1 of the 17 patients who did not have teeth in the line of fracture and developed infection (1 of 17 or 5.9%). None of the patients developed failed hardware, malunion, nonunion, malocclusion, or iatrogenic nerve injury.

CONCLUSIONS:

The use of a 2.0-mm 8-hole strut plate is associated with a low infection rate (8.2%). The infection rate for those mandibular angle fractures with teeth in the line of fracture retained was 14% compared with 5.6% for those fractures with the teeth in the line of fracture extracted.

• Authors: Peter Bui, Nagi Demian, Patrick Beetar
• Journal: Journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery : official journal of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (J Oral Maxillofac Surg) Vol. 67 Issue 4 Pg. 804-8 (Apr 2009) ISSN: 1531-5053 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19304038 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (therapeutic use)
• Antibiotic Prophylaxis
• Bone Plates
• Bone Screws
• Diet
• Equipment Design
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Fracture Fixation, Internal (instrumentation)
• Humans
• Jaw Fixation Techniques
• Male
• Mandibular Fractures (surgery)
• Middle Aged
• Retrospective Studies
• Surgical Wound Infection (etiology)
• Tooth (pathology)
• Tooth Extraction
• Treatment Outcome
• Violence
• Young Adult