Which Factors Affect the Reduction Quality of Open Reduction Internal Fixation of Mandibular Subcondylar Fractures?

BACKGROUND

Open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) of mandibular subcondylar fractures (MSF) involves several variables that could affect decision making. There is insufficient data regarding factors influencing the outcomes of MSF ORIF.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to investigate factors associated with quality of bony reduction of MSF and occlusion, after ORIF.

STUDY DESIGN, SETTING, AND SAMPLE

We designed a retrospective cohort study of consecutively treated subjects for MSF ORIF, ages 18 to 64 years, by University of Illinois' Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, between January 1, 2013, and January 26, 2021.

PREDICTOR VARIABLE

The primary predictor variable was the vertical level of MSF from the gonial angle. Secondary predictor variables included surgeon, fixation scheme (number and configuration of miniplate), surgical approach, time to surgery, mechanism of injury, vertical fragment overlap, overlying soft tissue thickness, presence of other mandibular fractures, and severity and direction of displacement.

MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLES

The primary outcome variable was the mean radiographic reduction score (RRS), rated by 2 blinded observers on a 1 to 5 scale. The secondary outcome variable was presence of postoperative malocclusion as documented in the medical records.

COVARIATES

Covariates were age and sex.

ANALYSES

Descriptive statistics were computed. To investigate the influence of the predictor variables on reduction quality, multifactorial analysis of variance with post hoc Tukey test was performed. For malocclusion, χ

RESULTS

Thirty-eight MSF in 37 subjects were included. Mean age was 32.7 years (range 18 to 64), and 83.8% were male. Mean RRS was 4.38 (standard deviation 0.77). Fixation scheme was the only variable that showed significant impact on RRS: single-straight miniplate had lower scores than double-straight (-1.50, P = .011), rhomboid (-1.29, P = .036), and ladder miniplates (-1.38, P = .048). There was 1 incidence of malocclusion (2.7%) which resolved without intervention.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Favorable reduction (anatomic reduction to mild discrepancies) can be achieved without malocclusion using double-straight, or rhomboid-shaped or ladder-shaped miniplates, without influences from patient or injury-related factors. In contrast, single-straight miniplate fixation resulted in moderate discrepancies in reduction, although it did not lead to malocclusion.

Informations de copyright

Copyright © 2023 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.