[Treatment of a compound fracture of the mandible with a comminuted compound fracture of the maxilla (author's transl)].

A case is reported of a comminuted compound facial fracture associating a multisplintered comminuted compound fracture of the right palate, with a quadrifocal fracture of the mandible including severe displacement of fragments of a bi-subcondylar fracture. Treatment was difficult and consisted of producing a stable solid osteosynthesis of the body of the mandible allowing rapid extra-oral symphysial traction to reduce the condylar fractures for 3 weeks. Hospitalization lasted 33 days and the final buccal opening was 34 mm, with satisfactory dental articulation. The authors emphasize the need for a solid, stable osteosynthesis of the body of the mandible by using miniaturized plates serewed into the splintered facial complexes.