Treatment of complex mandibular fractures using titanium mesh

Introduction: The treatment of complex fractures with miniplates is often d ifficult and unsatisfactory. Such fractures include extremely atrophic mand ibles, discontinuity defects, and marked comminuted fractures. Aim: With th is paper me want to call to mind once more that titanium mesh is useful for the treatment of such fractures and its use can reduce the number of compl ications. Patients: Between January 1996 and December 1998 we treated with titanium mesh 17 patients with fractures of extremely atrophic mandibles, m andibular discontinuity defects or comminuted fractures. Results: Union occ urred without complication in 70% of fractures treated with titanium mesh. In 20% there were minor complications such as postoperative haematoma, In o nly one case did infection occur, a more severe complication. Conclusion: B ecause of its geometry and the excellent physical and biomechanical propert ies, titanium mesh helps to achieve better stabilization of complex mandibu lar fractures than conventional miniplates do, Complications such as infect ion and non union can largely be avoided and bony continuity of the mandibl e can be restored. (C) 2000 European Association for Cranio-Maxillofacial S urgery.