Treatment of Patients With Double Unilateral Fractures of the Mandible

Purpose: To analyze the outcomes of treatment for double unilateral mandibular fracture. Materials and Methods: Retrospective chart review of patients who were treated between 1994 and 2004 for 2 mandibular fractures on the same side of the mandible. Data collected involved age, gender, race, cause of fracture, treatment modality, length of follow-up, occlusal relationship at last visit, preoperative and postoperative clinical photographs and radiographs, and incidence and management of complications. Standard descriptive statistics were used. Results: From a total of 1,287 mandibular fractures for which charts were available, 31 double unilateral mandibular fractures were treated during a 10-year period, for an occurrence rate of 2.4%. Demographic characteristics of these patients were similar to those of patients in other published studies on mandibular fracture. Fractures involved angle + body (18/31, 58%), condyle + body (11/31, 35%), and condyle + angle (2/31, 6%). Various treatments were provided for these fractures, but open reduction and internal fixation were applied to at least 1 of the fractures. Follow-up ranged from 6 weeks to 5 months (average, 9.6 weeks). Eight patients (8/31, 25.8%) developed complications involving visible gonial flaring; 3 of these also had cross-bite. Conclusion: Double unilateral mandibular fracture is a rare event. The difficulty inherent in treating these fractures can be alleviated with the use of proper techniques of open reduction and internal fixation; however, treatment continues to be associated with a high complication rate.