Treatment of mandibular fractures in paediatric patients

The aim of this study was to analyse the incidence of mandibular fractures in paediatric patients, treatment methods for these fractures, and typical complications. The study included 117 patients younger than 15 years of age who had mandibular fractures treated between 2001 and 2006 in one German and one Polish university. The data included the age at the time of injury, the mechanism of injury, anatomic localisation of the fracture, associated injuries, treatment methods, and functional disorders after the treatment. Falls and sport and traffic accidents were the main causes of the fractures. Of all injuries, condylar fractures were the most common (49%). The majority of mandibular body fractures (58%) were treated operatively, and 70% of condylar fractures were treated conservatively. As far as possible in terms of the patient's compliance and dimension of injury, conservative treatment is the method of choice for mandibular fractures in children.