Inferential therapy to promote union of mandibular fractures

Non-union of mandibular fractures is uncommon, but when it does occur it requires protracted treatment including further surgery. Nine patients with factors known to predispose to non-union out of 150 consecutive mandibular fractures received interferential therapy (I.T.) during the fixation period; all fractures united satisfactorily. In a retrospective study of 150 consecutive mandibular fractures previously treated by the same surgeons without I.T., three fractures resulted in non-union requiring grafting. Thus the incidence of non-union was 0% when I.T. was used and 2% in the control group.