Nine Years of Retrospective Study of Mandibular Fractures in Semi-urban Teaching Hospital, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India.

Study design: Retrospective study.

Objective: To evaluate current trends in maxillofacial trauma, a retrospective study of mandibular fractures at Government Dental College and Hospital Shimla H.P was carried out.

Methods: In this retrospective study, records of 910 patients with mandibular fractures were reviewed between 2007 and 2015 in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery out of total 1656 facial fractures. These mandibular fractures were assessed according to age, sex, aetiology in addition to monthly and yearly distribution. Post-operative complications such as malocclusion, neurosensory disturbances and infection were recorded.

Results: It was observed that mandibular fractures were most frequent in males (67.5%) and in the age group of 21-30 years; accidental fall was the most common etiological factor (43.8%) in the present study and in stark difference to already published reports. The most common fracture site was that of condylar region 239 (26.2%). Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) were done in 67.3% cases whereas 32.6% were managed by maxillomandibular fixation and circummandibular wiring. Miniplate osteosynthesis was the most favoured technique. The complication with ORIF was 16%.

Conclusions: To treat mandibular fractures, currently there are many techniques. However, in minimizing complications and in achieving satisfactory functional and aesthetic results experienced surgical team plays an important role.