High velocity mandible fracture and treatment outcomes- our experience

Aims: This study was carried out to estimate the pattern of mandible fracture following high velocity injury to the face and the treatment with their associated complications. Material and Methods: The present prospective cohort study included 58 total no. of patients with 74 no. of fractures among individuals 20-40years with high velocity injury. Methods of management included detailed clinical assessment with radiographic scans including orthopantomographs and computed tomographs along with combination of soft diet, maxilla-mandibular fixation, open reduction and internal fixation. Results: This prospective cohort study includes 58 individuals with 74 mandible fracture sites, following high frequency injury to jaw. Most frequent fractures found in our study individuals were fracture body parasymphysis of mandible 26(35%), followed by fracture condyle 22(30%), angle of mandible fractures 14(19%), mandibular symphysis 10(13%), ramus of mandible 2(3%). Among surgically managed patients (45), malunion was observed in 6 (13%) and non-union in 1 (2%) while among patients managed non-surgically/conservatively (23), malunion was observed in 7 (30%), non-union in 2 (9%). Conclusion: We compared the pattern of mandibular fracture following high velocity facial injuries with maximum incidence of parasymphysial fracture. Higher incidence of right sided fractures was observed. Our study also shows associated complicatios both pre and post definitive treatment, need for surgical and nonsurgical treatment in different types of mandible fractures. Keywords: Mandible fractures, Mandible body, Condyle, High velocity injury, Road Traffic Accidents.