Comparative analysis of trends in the treatment of mandibular fractures

The purpose of this study was to comparatively analyze trends in the treatment of mandibular fractures. A retrospective review of records of patients treated for mandibular fractures at our department over a 5-year period (2007–2011) was done. Data collected included age, gender, etiology, anatomical site of fracture and treatment method used. There were 406 mandibular fractures in 335 patients. Males constituted 73.7% (n = 247) and females 26.3% (n = 88); male:female ratio of 2.8:1. Age range was 1–72 years, with mean age of 28.5. Patients of 21–30 years of age sustained the most mandibular fractures. Road traffic accidents (43.6%) were the most common cause of fractures, followed by falls (40.0%). The most common site of mandibular fracture was the condyle (36.2%), followed by symphysis/parasymphysis (23.9%). Majority (92.5%) of the fractures were treated by open approach. However, comparative data with other studies worldwide revealed that some centers treated majority of their patients by closed approach. The choice of either closed or open approach methods of treatment of mandibular fractures depended mainly on availability of resources and the socioeconomic situations in different countries.