[Treatment outcome and complications of surgical and conservative management of mandibular fractures].

Retrospective analysis of 712 patients with 1166 mandibular fractures and follow up-study of 374 patients with 593 fractures was performed for discrimination of differences in wound- and bone-healing as well as late results between operative and conservative fracture treatment. 46.1% (328) of all patients have been treated conservatively, 53.9% (384) have been treated by operation. The follow up was performed on 255 patients with operative fracture treatment and 119 patients with conservative treatment. In 3.0% of the operatively treated patients bacterial infections occurred, in comparison to 8.7% of conservatively treated patients. From the viewpoint of functional aspects, such as occlusion, articulation and mandibular movement as well as radiological signs in the fractured region patients after operative treatment have shown partly significantly better results during the follow up compared to the group of conservatively treated patients. Neurological testings of inferior alveolar nerve and mental nerve have shown significantly better results in the group of conservatively treated patients. Since the functional results are much better after operative treatment, osteosynthesis with miniplates should be performed if there are no contraindications. The more precise reconstruction and stabilization of the fragments shortens time of hospitalization and leads to sooner functionality of the mandible.