Symphyseal mandibular fractures associated with bicondylar fractures: a retrospective analysis.

PURPOSE: Achieving functional and anatomic restoration is remarkably difficult in patients with symphyseal mandibular fractures associated with bicondylar fractures. Our objective was to evaluate the functional and esthetic outcomes of a group of patients who underwent surgery using rigid fixation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: In our study, 25 patients with symphyseal mandibular fractures associated with bicondylar fractures surgically treated from 1998 to 2008 at the Division of Maxillofacial Surgery of the University of Turin were retrospectively analyzed. The standardized evaluation consisted of an evaluation of occlusion, assessment of mandibular motion, and esthetic evaluation of facial width.

RESULTS: The patients showed good mandibular motion and good occlusion. After esthetic evaluation of the facial width of the 25 patients, 23 patients were rated as "excellent" or "good."

CONCLUSION: Successful treatment of multiple mandibular fractures may be achieved by different techniques. The key point is the re-establishment of the transversal bigonial dimension by a correct reconstruction of the mandibular arch.