Paediatric Mandibular Fracture Management - A Seven Year Retrospective Study

INTRODUCTION: Mandibular fractures are one of the most frequent and complex types of traumatic injuries of the maxillofacial region in children. Given significant long-term sequelae of inappropriate healing, adequate diagnosis and choice of management, which takes into account the patient’s age and fracture characteristics, are paramount. METHODS: The data for this study were obtained from the medical records of patients treated in the Department of Surgical Dentistry and Paediatric Maxillofacial Surgery of the Bogomolets National Medical University from 2014 to 2020. Age, gender, fracture pattern and surgical treatment methods performed in these patients were recorded and analysed. RESULTS: A total of 302 children with 376 traumatic fractures of the mandible were managed during the study period. The largest number of fractures was found in the condylar processes region, 42%, and in the body of the mandible, 40%. The majority of patients were males and in the 13–17 age group (147 [49%] cases). Tigerstedt’s maxillary-mandibular fixation splint was used in the majority of cases, alone or in the combination with open or internal fixation. DISCUSSION: Whilst the most common type of immobilisation in children in our series was Tigerstedt’s maxillary-mandibular fixation splint, its use is limited to the variable bite period. Alternative fixation options are discussed.