Infection Rate in Mandibular Angle Fractures Treated With a 2.0-mm 8-Hole Curved Strut Plate
Purpose
The aim of this study was to determine the rate of postoperative infection and the efficacy of removing teeth in the line of mandibular angle fractures treated with 2.0-mm 8-hole titanium curved strut plates. Our understanding is that this method of repair is currently being used only in a few centers in the United States.
Materials and Methods
A retrospective review of mandibular angle fractures treated with a 2.0-mm 8-hole strut plate during a 4-year period. Postoperative antibiotics were given for 1 week. Follow-up appointments were 4 weeks or longer. A nonchewing diet was instructed for 6 weeks. Data for all selected patients include the information such as age, gender, etiology of injuries, medical history, concurrent injuries, nerve deficits, pre- and postoperative antibiotic administration, postop infection, a presence or absence of teeth in the line of fractures, and whether these teeth were removed.
Results
Four patients (4 of 49 or 8.2%) developed infections. Two of those patients had a tooth in the line of a fracture that was retained (2 of 14 or 14%). The third had a tooth in the line of a fracture that was extracted (1 of 18 or 5.6%). The fourth patient was 1 of the 17 patients who did not have teeth in the line of fracture and developed infection (1 of 17 or 5.9%). None of the patients developed failed hardware, malunion, nonunion, malocclusion, or iatrogenic nerve injury.
Conclusions
The use of a 2.0-mm 8-hole strut plate is associated with a low infection rate (8.2%). The infection rate for those mandibular angle fractures with teeth in the line of fracture retained was 14% compared with 5.6% for those fractures with the teeth in the line of fracture extracted.
⁎Former Chief Resident, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center—Houston, Houston, TX
†Assistant Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center—Houston, Houston, TX
‡Second-Year Dental Student, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center—Houston, Houston, TX
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr Demian: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center—Houston, Dental Branch, 6516 MD Anderson, Houston, TX 77030
ABSTRACT