Jaw fracture is usually the result of an injury caused by a road accident, fights or playing sports. How is a jaw fracture treated and how long does it take? How to prevent injuries?

The facial skeleton, including the maxilla and mandible, due to its location and exposure, is particularly exposed to injuries, including fractures. A beating, traffic accident, fall, or sports injury - all of this can result in a jaw fracture that will require medical attention.

Contents:

  1. Jaw fracture - symptoms
  2. Jaw fracture - treatment
  3. Jaw fracture - treatment of simple fractures
  4. Fracture of the jaw - what does surgery look like
  5. Jaw fracture - prevention

Jaw fracture - symptoms

A jaw fracture can be accompanied by a wide variety of symptoms and sensations, such as:

  • spontaneous pain,
  • pain when opening the mouth and biting,
  • swelling,
  • facial asymmetry,
  • tooth mobility,
  • acute occlusion disorders in the form of an open bite, cross bite,
  • limited mobility of the mandible,
  • ear bleeding,
  • difficulty breathing.

These symptoms and many others may be a signal that the jaw bone may have fractured. To diagnose a fracture, imaging diagnostics in the form of X-rays or computed tomography is required. The doctor will decide on the treatment method depending on the type of fracture, the course of the fissure, the patient's general condition and teeth.

Jaw fracture - treatment

Academic maxillofacial surgery divides the methods of treatment of injuries into:

  • conservative and orthopedic,
  • conservative-surgical,
  • surgical.

The conservative and orthopedic methods include the use of ligature bonds (the so-calledwiring ),splintsandlifts . The group of conservative-surgical methods include, among otherssurrounding seams, tight, Adams extracts . Among the surgical techniques for treating jaw fractures,mini-platelet osteosynthesisis the standard. In some situations, treatment of jaw fractures may also require procedures such as: removal of teeth from the fracture fracture, release of jammed tissues betweenfragments, cleaning the wound from foreign bodies, tetanus prophylaxis, etc.

Jaw fracture - treatment of simple fractures

In cases of simple, single jaw fractures without indications for surgical treatment and injuries of the condylar process, patients are usually treated conservatively. In the case of fresh injuries, the doctor places the branches in the correct relationships under local anesthesia. If several days have passed since the fracture, it is referred to as old fractures. In such a situation, the fracture fissure is already filled with connective tissue, and the contracted muscles displace the fragments. To get repositioned, your doctor will use elastic lifts to gradually achieve the correct relationship. Indisplaced condylar fracturesa block to lift the bite on the side of the fracture will also be added to the lift set to adjust it. In patients with dentition, the fracture is secured withdental splintattached to the teeth with ligatures, to which elastic extracts are attached. In the case of edentulous patients, the equipment uses modified dentures of the patient or made on the basis ofimpressions of the Guninga-Porta splint . The time of conservative treatment of fractures ranges from6-8 weeks . Details of the treatment of specific cases and the techniques used result from the specificity of the injury and the general condition of the patient.

Fracture of the jaw - what does surgery look like

Fracture of the jaw with the use ofmini-platelet osteosynthesisis most often performed under general anesthesia. During the operation, the surgeon replaces the fragments, determines the correct relationships of the dental arches and connects bone fragments using prefabricated or - in complicated cases - individual titanium abutments. Fasteners can be titanium mesh, straight or X, L, T, Y-shaped plates provided with holes for screwing in fixing screws. The bone fragments joined in this way are left to fuse, and the wound in soft tissues is stitched withsutures for 10-14 days . In clinical practice, in some cases, after bone healing, reoperation is required to remove unnecessary titanium elements.

Osteosynthesis is superior to other methods of fracture treatment due to the immediate fixation effect of the fragments, less strenuous postoperative period, faster rehabilitation and earlier recovery of the patient to full fitness. The downside is the potential need for reoperation to remove the anastomosis. Osteosynthesis is not recommended in people with general diseases that pose a risk to the patient under general anesthesia.

Jaw fracture -prevention

While the treatments for jaw fractures are sophisticated, it is best to prevent injuries. A long period of convalescence, impaired eating, speech, impaired facial aesthetics, the risk of scarring and impaired hygiene speak for using common sense in everyday life. Helmets, pads, seat belts, avoiding conflict situations, dangers, vigilance and caution on the road can significantly reduce the risk of trauma and the need for difficult treatment.

Source:

L. Kryst,Maxillofacial surgery , PZWL, Warsaw 2015.

Category:

Dentistry and Orthodontics