Fixation of Atrophic Edentulous Mandible Fractures by Bone Plating at the Inferior Border

Purpose: No consensus has been reached regarding the best treatment for repair of fractures of the severely atrophic mandible (<10 mm vertical height). The most complete Cochrane review of the published data could not substantiate a single best practice recommendation for treating these fractures. The present study reports the results of such treatment by placing miniplates at the inferior border of the mandible of 23 fractures of the mandibular body in 16 patients. Materials and Methods: This was a consecutive case series during a 30-year period performed by a single surgeon at several practice locations using the technique of extraoral plating at the inferior border. All patients were prospectively monitored clinically and radiographically for achievement of bony union and for complications of sensory disturbances of the lower lip, delayed healing, and hardware removal. The mean observation time was 23.1 months (range 1 to 60), with only 2 cases observed for less than 6 months. Results: All the patients achieved clinical union of their fractures. Two cases of fibrous union did not reach ossification until 5 months after surgery. The hardware removal rate was 13.6%, and the infection/prolonged inflammation rate was 13.6%. There was 1 case of malunion. Those patients who had dentures were able to return to denture wearing postoperatively. Conclusions: Miniplate fixation of fractures of the severely atrophic mandible at the inferior border is safe and effective. (C) 2012 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons J Oral Maxillofac Surg 70:883-889, 2012