Fractures of the lower jaw in children (causes, types, diagnosis and treatment). Retrospective 5 year analysis

Abstract

Background/aim: Epidemiology of the lower jaw fractures varies between populations. This study explores the epidemiology of the lower jaw fractures at the Department of Surgical Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery of Childhood, Bogomolets National Medical University. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of 210 case histories of children with traumatic fractures of the lower jaw, from the age of 6 months–18 years old, carried out at the Department of Surgical Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery of Childhood, Bogomolets National Medical University, from January 2014 to December 2018. Results: The most common cause of the mandibular fractures was falling 142 (67%). Mostly, qualified help was sought on the first day of injury (n = 103–49%). X-ray diagnostics was performed for all patients, but in different forms: orthopantomography was performed in 57 cases (27%), panoramic radiographs of the lower jaw in a direct projection - 17 (8%), and CT studies - in 136 (65%) children. The immobilization of fractured fragments of the lower jaw is mainly carried out using the double jaw splinting according to Tigerstedt 153 (73%), in combination with osteosynthesis - 29 (14%) cases. Conclusion: Fractures of the lower jaw occurred more commonly between the ages of 7 and 17 years, the cause of which in most cases was a fall. The most common location of the mandibular fractures was-the condylar process. The most common method of fixing fragments of the lower jaw was double jaw splinting.