Asian Journal of Advances in Medical Science

Background: Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) is still the leading cause of all mandibular fractures. The incidence of fractures involving the mandibular angle fractures are stated by most authors to be the second common fractures with a male to female ration of 2:1. Mandibular angle fractures may cause limited mouth opening, and disturbed occlusion, malocclusion resulting from this fracture is due to upward push of posterior segment resulting in premolar contact at ipsilateral molar region. Therefor aim of the treatment is to re-establish the occlusal stability for normal function.

Methods: The study followed a   prospective design and was conducted at Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery department, king Salman hospital, Riyadh Saudi Arabia. Demographic data (Age, gender) and complete medical history were obtained from all patients. All patients were requested to fill the consent form in their native language. A Qusai experimental randomised trial conducted between manual reduction group and arch bar elastic group and P value of <0.05 was considered significant. All analysis was done on SPSS version 18.0.

Results: Total 86-patients with age above 12, were included in the study in which 29 participants (33.7%) were female and 57-participants (66.2%) were male. On the basis of random selection,  these were divided into two equal groups. Soft tissue injury higher in arch bar elastic group (62.7%) as compared to manual reduction group (3.7%). A statistically-significant association was found between arch bar group and manual reduction group (P < 0.0001). The patients treated with arch bar elastics showed a significantly higher gingivitis as compared to the healthy patients. In our study intraoral approach and upper boarder single titinium plate (2mm) with 2x7mm titinum screws two on eac side of facture, were common in both groups. The stability of occlusion and soft tissue injury were two post-operative findings to document.

Conclusion: Patient treated with manual reduction faced less post-operative complications like soft tissue injury and gingiva injury when compared with arch bar elastic group method. Based on this study manual reduction can prevent iatrogenic soft tissue injury and reestablish occlusion, which is the primary goal of treatment.