Pediatric mandibular fractures treated by rigid internal fixation

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Pediatric Traumatology
• Orthodontics

Background:

• Mandibular fractures in children are infrequent and present unique treatment challenges.
• Traditional conservative management or closed reduction with maxillomandibular fixation (MMF) can be problematic in young patients due to compliance and nutritional issues.

Observation:

• A five-year-old child sustained bilateral mandibular fractures.
• The patient's condition necessitated surgical intervention.

Findings:

• Rigid internal fixation using miniplates and screws was successfully employed to treat the bilateral mandibular fractures.
• This approach enabled immediate jaw mobilization, bypassing the need for MMF.

Implications:

• Rigid internal fixation offers a viable alternative for managing unstable pediatric mandibular fractures.
• This technique potentially improves patient outcomes by allowing early functional recovery and reducing treatment-related complications.