Fixation of mandible fractures: a simplified method

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Trauma Surgery
• Biomaterials in Medicine

Background:

• Mandible fractures often managed with closed reduction techniques.
• Maxillary-mandibular fixation (MMF) is crucial for effective fracture healing.
• A novel, cost-effective MMF method using commercial cable ties is presented.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a simple, safe, and cost-effective method for MMF in mandible fracture treatment.
• To assess the feasibility of using commercial cable ties for MMF in a prospective clinical study.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 20 consecutive patients with mandible fractures.
• Maxillary-mandibular fixation (MMF) was achieved using commercial cable ties.
• Patients were assessed for occlusion, clinical outcome, discomfort, and complications.

Main Results:

• 90% of patients achieved normal occlusion post-treatment.
• All mandible fractures demonstrated clinical union.
• Seventy percent reported moderate discomfort during cable tie placement; most experienced minimal discomfort during MMF and removal.
• No major complications were noted, though three patients experienced MMF loosening.

Conclusions:

• Commercial cable ties provide a safe, simple, effective, and cost-effective MMF solution for specific mandible fracture cases.
• The technique shows promise for routine clinical application in managing mandible fractures.