Efficacy of screw retained hybrid arch bar and conventional dental wiring using Erich arch bar for maxillomandibular fixation in mandibular fracture (A prospective randomized clinical study)

Objective: The purpose of the current study was to compare the efficacy of screw retained hybrid arch bar versus conventional Erich arch bar for maxillomandibular fixation in mandibular fracture. Materials and methods: twenty patients were randomly divided into two groups, group (A), patients treated with fixation of the upper and lower jaws by ORIF with plates and screws using the smart lock hybrid arch bar - which is a titanium arch bar with self-drilling locking screws, and secured by 24 gauge (0.5 mm) stainless steel wires. group (B), patients treated with fixation of the upper and lower jaws by ORIF with plates and screws using Erich arch tape, which was fixed with 24-gauge stainless steel wires surrounding the teeth and placed around the molars and premolars. Clinical evaluation included the status of occlusion, bite force, gingival health with GI and post-operative pain by VAS. Radiographic evaluation included localization of the line of fracture, plates, screws at the fracture lines. Results: The operating time of the study group 22.40 ± 4.11 minutes, less than in the control group 54.50 ± 4.20 minutes. The occlusion improvement of the study group was significantly better than control group after both 1 week and 3 months. Postoperative pain lower in study group than in control group. Gingival health evaluation in study group better than in control group. Conclusion: Hybrid arch bar is more useful than the conventional EAB for MMF in mandibular fractures; it takes less time to apply and offers surgeons greater benefits.