Miniplate osteosynthesis for fractures of the edentulous mandible: a clinical study 1989-96

Our 8 years experience of treating fractures of the edentulous mandible by miniplate osteosynthesis, is discussed. Forty patients (31 men and 9 women) aged 37 to 86 Sears (mean: 6 1.6 years, SD: +/- 14.07) with 67 fracture si tes were treated, The surgical approach was mainly intraoral (37 out of 40 patients) without the use of intermaxillary fixation, The postoperative cli nical and radiological findings are reported and discussed. The advantages of the method are of great importance since immediate postop erative opening of the mouth is permitted, as the fractured bones are anato mically stabilized by means of titanium miniplates and screws. Our results were felt to be satisfactory, with a reoperation rate of only 3.9% (two out of 51 operated fracture sites, 16 condylar fractures,were treated conserva tively). This allows us to propose intraoral miniplate osteosynthesis as a routine method of treatment in cases of edentulous mandibular fractures whi ch are mainly seen in elderly people.