Mandible Fractures Discussion and Debate

Oneida Arosarena, Yadranko Ducic, and Travis T. Tollefson address questions for discussion and debate: 1. Is rigid fixation essential for the treatment of angle fractures, or is a single plate along the superior border sufficient? 2. Does the presence of teeth in the fracture line (particularly the third molar in angle fractures) contribute to stability of the fixation, or is it a nidus for infection? 3. What is the role of postoperative antibiotics? Are they always necessary? 4. Do you believe that applying MMF is an important part of mandibular fracture repair? If you do not use MMF in all cases, how do you decide which cases require intraoperative and/or postoperative MMF? Do you believe that the techniques/methods of applying MMF make a difference? 5. How do you manage edentulous mandible fractures? 6. Analysis: Over the past 5 years, how has your technique or approach changed or what is the most important thing you have learned in dealing with mandible fractures?