Etiology and management of mandibular fractures associated with endosteal implants in the atrophic mandible.

Mandibular fractures can occur with the insertion of endosseous implants. Four patients whose mandibles were fractured with the removal or insertion of mandibular endosseous implants are described. Three of the patients required an autogenous bone graft to repair the fracture, and 1 patient was managed with a reconstruction plate. Strategies for prevention and treatment of this uncommon complication are discussed.