MANDIBULAR FRACTURE MANAGEMENT;

COMPARISON OF EFFICACY OF MAXILLOMANDIBULAR FIXATION OF SCREWS VERSUS ERICH ARCH BAR.

Abstract

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of Maxillomandibular fixation screws versus Erich Arch bar in the management of mandibular fractures. Study Design: Comparative case series study. Setting: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad, Jamshoro. Period: 29/03/2016 to 28/09/2016. Methodology: Forty patients of either gender with age above 18 years with mandibular fracture requiring closed reduction were included. 20 patients of Groups A, treated with Maxillomandibular fixation screws and 20 patients of Group B treated with Erich Arch bar. Mean operative time was noted. All patients were followed up on every week up to four weeks. The statistical analysis via t-test was used and P-value <0.05 was categorized as significant. Results: In MMF screw group 13(65.0%) patients were male and 7(35.0%) patients were female whereas in Arch Bar group, 15(75.0%) were male and 5(25.0%) were female. Evidence of wire stick injury was found positive in 2(10.0%) and 4(20.0%) patients among MMF screw and Arch Bar groups respectively. In MMF screw group, mean operative time was 84.20±18.04 minutes whereas in Arch Bar groups it was 121.80±13.68 minutes. The mean operative time is significantly reduced in MMF screw group as compared to Arch Bar group with p value <0.01. Conclusion: We conclude that Maxillomandibular fixation with screws was more worthwhile mode as matched to the conservative Erich arch bars for managing the mandibular fractures.