[The Helkimo index for assessing treatment results after mandibular fractures]

Based on the Helkimo index we assessed the success of conservative and conservative-surgical forms of treatment for mandibular fractures in a total of 166 patients. The control group consisted of 50 probands. The Helkimo dysfunction index, which is based on various criteria, showed dysfunction in 81.9% of the patients with only slight functional impairment in 57.2% of these cases. 18.1% of the patients were clinically symptom-free. A comparison with the probands revealed no major differences in dysfunction between the two groups. Significant differences were observed only in the case of 2 isolated criteria (maximum mandibular protrusion, muscle pain). Severe dysfunction, however, was more common in the fracture patients. Based on the Helkimo occlusion index disorder were noted in 91.7% of the patients, while severe occlusion disorder were observed particularly in patients with combined mandibular body and condyle fractures (40.0%). In the control group a more favorable occlusion index was found to be due mainly to the greater number of present and/or occluding teeth. The Helkimo index, particularly the dysfunctionindex, is a very useful instrument for assessing the success of treatment measures in mandibular fracture cases. It should be more commonly used to improve the possibilites of objective comparisons between patients from different hospitals.