Maxillo-mandibular fixation trends in the United States

Questionnaires were sent to directors of the 118 oral and maxillofacial surgery training programs in the United States and its territories to survey current trends and recent experience with maxillo-mandibular fixation (MMF). Eighty-eight percent of the respondents indicated that it was customary to keep wire cutters at the bedsides of hospitalized patients who were in MMF, and 49% discharged patients in MMF with wire cutters. The respondents were aware of 17 inpatients and 5 outpatients in their programs who had required emergency release from MMF during the previous 5 years. Emergent MMF release is a rare event. The availability of wire cutters at the hospital bed or issuance of wire cutters to outpatients in MMF should be based on a case-by-case consideration of the procedure performed, postoperative bleeding, vomiting potential, edema, airway integrity, patient dexterity, and patient compliance.