Supplemental maxillomandibular fixation with miniplate osteosynthesis-required or not?

To compare outcomes of open reduction and internal fixation of mandible fractures followed by either immediate mobilization or 5 days of maxillomandibular fixation.

We analyzed our use of supplemental maxillomandibular fixation with miniplate osteosynthesis during a 2.5-year period in 118 patients with 180 mandible fractures. A retrospective, matched pairing of identical fractures fixated with identical plating schemes was carried out. Thirty-five pairs of patients undergoing monocortical plating were identified. Patients in group 1 were treated with supplemental maxillomandibular fixation after surgery, whereas patients in group 2 (immediate release group) were treated without postoperative maxillomandibular fixation.

The total rate of complications was 17% with supplemental maxillomandibular fixation and 14% without supplemental maxillomandibular fixation (p > 0.05). No statistically significant outcome advantage could be attributed to the use of maxillomandibular fixation.

The current retrospective study shows no significant differences in treating isolated mandible fractures with open reduction and internal fixation and immediate release versus open reduction and internal fixation with 5-7 days of MMF.