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A jaw fracture, like other craniofacial fractures, is usually the result of a traffic accident, fights or sports. How are jaw fractures treated? How long does this treatment take? What complications may arise?
Jaw fractures , like all other fractures, require appropriate treatment. The causes of fractures can be different. Different situations cause injuries among children and different ones among adults.
A fracture is a pathological condition consisting in breaking the continuity of bone tissue as a result of a force exceeding its strength.
In the group of adult Poles,beatingsare the most common cause of facial skull injuries, followed byroad accidents . In the group of children, as you can easily guess, the most important cause of injuries are falls from heights and falls while playing. There are many divisions of fractures, but all of them have similar treatment principles. It is obligatory to properly adjust and immobilize the bone fragments so that the healing process can proceed properly. The basis for the diagnosis of bone fractures isthorough examination of the patientand taking a set of appropriateX-rays , it may be necessary to perform computed tomography and a number of other specialist examinations. Patients with craniofacial injuries are often hospitalized in a serious condition, and the ultimate goal is to save their lives. It is assumed that the final treatment of a mandibular fracture may be deferred up to 10 days after the injury.
Jaw fractures: treatment
The treatment of mandibular fractures consists in restoring the continuity of the bones and immobilizing them so that the fragments heal as quickly as possible and the lost functions are restored. The methods of treating jaw fractures can be divided into: conservative methods, also known as orthopedic ones, surgical methods and mixed conservative and surgical treatment. Based on the general and local condition of the patient, the number of teeth, the type of fracture and several other factors, the doctor selects the appropriate treatment method for the patient.
Conservative treatment of mandibular fractures includes:
- metal splints attached to the teeth with wire ligatures;
- special railsacrylic with metal elements;
- the patient's own prostheses or the so-called Gunning apparatus in combination with a chinstrap, these apparatuses are used in the case of toothless oral cavity.
In the event of a jaw fracture with full arches or small missing teeth, special metal splints are used. The metal rail is bent individually, separately for the upper and lower bend.
Treatment of mandibular fractures is difficult and burdensome for the patient.
The upper splints are attached to the upper teeth with thin wires, and the lower splints to the lower teeth. Both rails are equipped with special hooks, on which the rubber rings are initially unfastened, thus connecting the upper and lower rails. Then the elastic rings are replaced with a wire ligature which stiffens the fracture.The period of time needed for the bones to fuse together is approximately 6-8 weeks . After this time, if there are no complications, the splints are removed. During conservative treatment, it is possible to consume onlyliquid and semi-liquid food- the so-called "straw diet". Then, careful oral hygiene is also required. Often conservative treatment is used as an adjunct to surgery.
Worth knowingThe most popular method of treatment of jaw fractures is surgical treatment with the use ofmetal microplates- it is the so-called osteosynthesis. The factory-made metal plates have different shapes, they can also be properly cut and bent to fit the shape of the bone. They are made of biologically inert metal. The plates hold the bone fragments together and are attached to them with screws. After adjusting the bone fragments and adjusting the plates in the bone, holes are drilled to match the place where the screws are screwed in. The diameter of the holes is smaller than the diameter of the bolts, which results in better stabilization. The cut for surgery may be extra-oral, intra-oral, or the operation is carried out through a wound in the integuments of the body without additional access. After bone reconstruction, the wound is sutured and the sutures are removed after about 10-14 days. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia.
Fractures of the lower jaw: complications
Complications may arise in the case of any disease and treatment. In the case of jaw fractures, the most common complications after surgery include dehiscence of the wound edges and its bacterial infection. As the infection spreads to neighboring tissues, an inflammatory infiltrate, abscess or phlegmon may develop. In some cases, bone union is delayed.This situation occurs when the union of bone fragments lasts longer than 8 weeks, then proper immobilization should be maintained and antibacterial therapy should be administered. If the bone fragments are not properly immobilized, a pseudo-joint can develop. This condition is confirmed by the mobility of the fractures (over 3 months) and the radiographic image of the fracture gap. Other complications that may arise are: disturbances in the growth and development of facial bones, problems in tooth eruption, stiffening of the temporomandibular joint, bite disorders, fractures fused in an incorrect position. All these conditions require appropriate treatment to eliminate or reduce their negative effects as much as possible. The doctor has a wide range of treatment options. The selection of the appropriate method for the patient's condition allows the treatment to proceed properly.