Treatment Modalities in Maxillofacial Fractures: Retrospective Analysis

Abstract

Objective: Our aim was to analyze patients treated for maxillofacial fractures due to trauma retrospectively and to discuss the results. Material and Methods: The study comprised 138 patients [aged between 2-76 years, (mean age 29.12 +/- 14.79) 102 men, 36 women] who had attended the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Yuzuncu Yil University Medical Faculty during February 1995-October 2006, with maxillofacial fractures due to trauma. The patients were evaluated retrospectively for etiology, localization, treatment modalities and complications, and results were compared with other studies. Results: Traffic accidents were the most common cause of maxillofacial fractures (34%), followed by falls from high (21%). Distribution of maxillofacial fractures due to trauma were as follows; mandibular fractures in 64.6% and maxillary fractures in 20.2%. Among mandibular fractures, parasymphyseal fractures were the most common by 31.5% and coronoid fractures were the least common with 0.6%. The techniques used for treatment were miniplaque application, arch-bar Gillie's method and condilectomy; miniplaque technique being the most frequently used (67.7%). The most common complication was infection. Seven patients required tracheotomy in the emergency room for respiratory distress was. Conclusion: In this study, techniques and equipments used in the treatment process changed parallel to technological developments. While wire fixation and arch-bar procedures were more frequent in the earlier cases, titanium mini-plaques and microplaques had results that were more favorable with better outcomes and less complications.