Mandible Trauma Reconstruction

Mandible fractures are a common craniomaxillofacial injury. Objectives in treating these injuries include restoring premorbid occlusion, maintaining sound temporomandibular joint function, maintaining pain-free mouth opening with an interincisal distance of 40 mm, and allowing for normal movement of the jaw in all directions while minimizing patient discomfort and postoperative complications. Treatment options for mandible fractures range from no chew diet to open reduction and internal fixation of multiple mandibular fractures in the setting of other craniomaxillofacial injuries that oftentimes necessitate postoperative maxillomandibular fixation. Condylar, ramus, angle, body, parasymphyseal, and symphyseal fractures each have various treatment options depending on the presence of dentition, mandibular height, presence of comminution, and the presence of additional injuries. Over the past few decades, there has been a trend towards open reduction internal fixation of condylar fractures, fixation with miniplates in noncomminuted symphyseal, parasymphyseal, and angle fractures, and avoiding postoperative maxillomandibular fixation when feasible.