Objectives:
Mandibular fractures are one of the most common injuries in the emergency department and are also the most common type of facial fracture. Follow-up, treatment and approach to mandibular fractures are important due to the frequent occurrence and development of complications affecting functional status such as malocclusion and temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Therefore, we analyzed the patients that underwent operative treatment for mandibular fracture in our clinic.
Materials and Methods:
The study was designed retrospectively. Patients who were operated on due to mandibular fracture were scanned via the hospital data automation system. Age, gender, etiology, fracture type, treatment and complication data were obtained and recorded for a total of 274 patients. As statistical methods, descriptive statistics were expressed as percentages and ratios. In addition, etiology-fracture type, age-fracture type relationships were evaluated with the “Kruskal-Wallis” test and p<0.05 was considered significant. SPSS ver. 26.0 was used to analyze the data.
Results:
78.8% (n=216) of the cases were male and 21.2% (n=58) were female. 3rd decade was most frequently affected (n=93, 33.9%), followed by the 2nd decade (n=67, 24.4%) (Minimum-maximum=1-77, Standard deviation=14.8, Mean=26.8). The most common fracture classes were Class 4 (n=120, 43.8%), followed by Class 3 (42 cases, 15.3%). Statistical analysis showed that Class 1 fractures were the most common in the first decade, and Class 4c fractures were the most common in the 4th decade (p<0.05). Class 1 fractures were most frequently associated with falls, and Class 4 fractures were most frequently associated with assault (p<0.05).
Conclusion:
Taking precautions to reduce assaults and falls has an important role in reducing the occurrence of fractures, and we think that providing and protecting intra- and postoperative occlusion and increasing infection-protective measures in order to reduce post-treatment complications can increase the success of treatment.
Keywords: Mandibular fractures, etiology, fracture type, open reduction internal fixation
