[Experience in mandibular fracture treatment with osteosynthesis during the growth period]

The experiences in the treatment of 19 fractures of the mandibular body in 14 children and 30 similar fractures in 23 adolescents are reported. The average hospitalization of the conventionally treated children lasted 19.5 days compared with 14.8 days in the osteosynthesized group, which originally suffered from heavier fracture dislocations. Intermaxillary fixation (IMf) was maintained for 23 days on an average in the conventionally treated and 14 days in the osteosynthesized children, where it was necessary only in 4 out of 7 cases. In 2 children an injury of dental roots of altogether three teeth had to be diagnosed by x-ray, probably caused by 7-mm-screws used earlier. In order to avoid injury of germs especially in the region of the canine, we are now using screws of a maximum length of 5 mm for miniplate osteosynthesis.