Complication rates associated with different treatments for mandibular fractures.

PURPOSE: This study compared the complication rate with different types of mandibular fracture treatment (maxillomandibular fixation, 2-mm miniplates, 2.4-mm AO plates, and 2.7-mm AO plates).

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

A total of 245 patients who presented with 386 fractures were retrospectively analyzed. Patient characteristics, type of fracture, severity of fracture, type of treatment used, and occurrence of complications were recorded. Statistical analysis was used to compare complication rates, fracture severity, and type of treatment.

RESULTS

There were no differences in the complication rates for the different types of treatment. There was a significant correlation (P < .05) between fracture severity and the overall complication rate, postoperative infection, and postoperative malocclusion, but there was no significant correlation between these complications and the type of treatment applied.

CONCLUSION

The occurrence of postoperative complications in the treatment of mandibular fractures is fundamentally related to the severity of the fracture rather than to the type of treatment used.