Delayed union of mandible: analysis of general and local factors

Objective – to evaluate the etiological significance of local and general factors in the occurrence of delayed union of bone tissue in patients with mandibular fractures. a personalized questionnaire was developed and filled by 74 patients with fragments mobility that persisted 1 month after reposition and fixation of the mandibular fractures for determination the role of local and general factors in the occurrence of delayed union. Thus, local and general factors that most closely correlate with the development of this complication were identified. The obtained data were compared with the results of a retrospective analysis of case histories of patients with mandibular fractures over a five-year period. The presence of a general somatic pathology, head injury and polytrauma, as well as such aggravating factors as alcohol and drug abuse should be considered as the general risk factors for the development of the delayed union of mandibular fractures. Among local factors, inflammation in the area of mandibular fractures takes the first place, the development of which is provoked by untimely treatment of patients, comminuted fractures, traumatic surgical interventions, etc. Among patients with delayed union of mandibular fractures, 86.5% received antibiotics for more than ten days. The risk group should also include patients with mandibular fractures of a young age (from 18 to 25 years) and those over 45 years. The problem areas for consolidation are mental section (31.1%) and the angle of the jaw (25.7%).