Treatment of Patients With Double Unilateral Fractures of the Mandible

Purpose

To analyze the outcomes of treatment for double unilateral mandibular fracture.

Materials and Methods

Retrospective chart review of patients who were treated between 1994 and 2004 for 2 mandibular fractures on the same side of the mandible. Data collected involved age, gender, race, cause of fracture, treatment modality, length of follow-up, occlusal relationship at last visit, preoperative and postoperative clinical photographs and radiographs, and incidence and management of complications. Standard descriptive statistics were used.

Results

From a total of 1,287 mandibular fractures for which charts were available, 31 double unilateral mandibular fractures were treated during a 10-year period, for an occurrence rate of 2.4%. Demographic characteristics of these patients were similar to those of patients in other published studies on mandibular fracture. Fractures involved angle + body (18/31, 58%), condyle + body (11/31, 35%), and condyle + angle (2/31, 6%). Various treatments were provided for these fractures, but open reduction and internal fixation were applied to at least 1 of the fractures. Follow-up ranged from 6 weeks to 5 months (average, 9.6 weeks). Eight patients (8/31, 25.8%) developed complications involving visible gonial flaring; 3 of these also had cross-bite.

Conclusion

Double unilateral mandibular fracture is a rare event. The difficulty inherent in treating these fractures can be alleviated with the use of proper techniques of open reduction and internal fixation; however, treatment continues to be associated with a high complication rate.