International Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry

Register      Login

VOLUME 16 , ISSUE 3 ( May-June, 2023 ) > List of Articles

REVIEW ARTICLE

Pediatric Maxillofacial Trauma: Insights into Diagnosis and Treatment of Mandibular Fractures in Pediatric Patients

Elena Hofmann, Steffen Koerdt, Max Heiland, Jan-Dirk Raguse, Jan Oliver Voss

Keywords : Fracture management, Mandibular fracture, Pediatric maxillofacial trauma, Pediatric patient

Citation Information : Hofmann E, Koerdt S, Heiland M, Raguse J, Voss JO. Pediatric Maxillofacial Trauma: Insights into Diagnosis and Treatment of Mandibular Fractures in Pediatric Patients. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2023; 16 (3):499-509.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10005-2401

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 03-07-2023

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2023; The Author(s).


Abstract

Aim: To assess the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in pediatric mandibular fractures with regards to fracture pattern and localization. Patients and methods: This retrospective study included patients under the age of 17 years that presented to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin with mandibular fractures over an 11-year long period (2010–2020). Medical records were analyzed for age, gender, injury mechanism, clinical presentation, imaging modalities, fracture pattern, and fracture management. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, normality testing, and Mann–Whitney U tests. Results: A total of 91 pediatric patients (23 females and 68 males) presented with mandibular fractures. The majority of mandibular fractures occurred in patients aged 13–16 years (67.0%, n = 61). The main causes were activities of daily life (34.1%), followed by assault (25.3%). Malocclusion and pain upon mandibular joint compression were documented in 72.5% and 51.7% of patients, respectively. The most frequently applied radiological diagnostic tool was a panoramic X-ray (49.5%). The main fracture patterns were single (42.9%) and double fractures (48.4%). An age-adapted surgical approach using open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) was the most frequent management (61.5%). A conservative approach was favored in cases of condylar head fractures. Resorbable plates were used in eight cases of ORIF (8.8%). Conclusion: Treatment regimens should be carefully selected based on the unique anatomy of the pediatric patient with regards to centers of growth and dentition phase, to restore stomatognathic function and to maintain adequate skeletal growth and eruption of teeth. Clinical significance: This study illustrates the challenges of mandibular fracture management in the pediatric patient.


HTML PDF Share
  1. Rogan DT, Ahmed A. Pediatric facial fractures. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing 2021 [updated 2021 Jul 31]. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33085403.
  2. Boyette JR. Facial fractures in children. Otolaryngol Clin North Am 2014;47(5):747–61. DOI: 10.1016/j.otc.2014.06.008
  3. Sharma S, Vashistha A, Chugh A, et al. Pediatric mandibular fractures: a review. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2009;2(2):1–5. DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10005-1022
  4. Vyas RM, Dickinson BP, Wasson KL, et al. Pediatric facial fractures: current national incidence, distribution, and health care resource use. J Craniofac Surg 2008;19(2):339–49; discussion 350. DOI: 10.1097/SCS.0b013e31814fb5e3
  5. Thoren H, Iizuka T, Hallikainen D, et al. Different patterns of mandibular fractures in children. An analysis of 220 fractures in 157 patients. J Craniomaxillofac Surg 1992;20(7):292–296. DOI: 10.1016/s1010-5182(05)80398-1
  6. Zachariades N, Papavassiliou D, Koumoura F. Fractures of the facial skeleton in children. J Craniomaxillofac Surg 1990;18(4):151–153. DOI: 10.1016/s1010-5182(05)80509-8
  7. Gassner R, Tuli T, Hächl O, et al. Craniomaxillofacial trauma in children: a review of 3,385 cases with 6,060 injuries in 10 years. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2004;62(4):399–407. DOI: 10.1016/j.joms.2003.05.013
  8. McGraw BL, Cole RR. Pediatric maxillofacial trauma. Age-related variations in injury. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1990;116(1):41–45. DOI: 10.1001/archotol.1990.01870010045014
  9. Cleveland CN, Kelly A, DeGiovanni J, et al. Maxillofacial trauma in children: association between age and mandibular fracture site. Am J Otolaryngol 2021;42(2):102874. DOI: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2020.102874
  10. Iida S, Matsuya T. Paediatric maxillofacial fractures: their aetiological characters and fracture patterns. J Craniomaxillofac Surg 2002;30(4):237–241. DOI: 10.1054/jcms.2002.0295
  11. Karim T, Khan AH, Ahmed SS. Trauma of facial skeleton in children: An indian perspective. Indian J Surg 2010;72(3):232–235. DOI: 10.1007/s12262-010-0056-x
  12. Imahara SD, Hopper RA, Wang J, et al. Patterns and outcomes of pediatric facial fractures in the United States: a survey of the National Trauma Data Bank. J Am Coll Surg 2008;207(5):710–716. DOI: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2008.06.333
  13. Owusu JA, Bellile E, Moyer JS, et al. Patterns of pediatric mandible fractures in the United States. JAMA Facial Plast Surg 2016;18(1):37–41. DOI: 10.1001/jamafacial.2015.1456
  14. Glazer M, Joshua BZ, Woldenberg Y, et al. Mandibular fractures in children: analysis of 61 cases and review of the literature. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2011;75(1):62–64. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2010.10.008
  15. Al Shetawi AH, Lim CA, Singh YK, et al. Pediatric Maxillofacial Trauma: A Review of 156 Patients. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2016;74(7):1420.e1–1424.e1. DOI: 10.1016/j.joms.2016.03.001
  16. Rozema R, Doff MHJ, El Moumni M, et al. Diagnostic accuracy of physical examination findings for midfacial and mandibular fractures. Injury 2021;52(9):2616–2624. DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2021.05.037
  17. Buitrago-Téllez CH, Cornelius CP, Prein J, Kunz C, et al. The comprehensive AOCMF classification system: radiological issues and systematic approach. Craniomaxillofac Trauma Reconstr 2014;7(Suppl 1):S123–S130. DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1389565
  18. Spiessl B, Schroll K. Gelenkfortsatz-und Kieferköpfchenfrakturen. Spezielle Frakturen-und Luxationslehre. New York: Georg Thieme Verlag; 1972;136–52.
  19. Farkas LG, Posnick JC, Hreczko TM. Growth patterns of the face: a morphometric study. Cleft Palate Craniofac J 1992;29(4):308–315. DOI: 10.1597/1545-1569_1992_029_0308_gpotfa_2.3.co_2
  20. Morris C, Kushner GM, Tiwana PS. Facial skeletal trauma in the growing patient. Oral Maxillofac Surg Clin North Am 2012;24(3):351–364. DOI: 10.1016/j.coms.2012.05.005
  21. Pabst AM, Blatt S, Epperlein P, et al. The risk of tooth root injuries using cortical screws for intermaxillary fixation and osteosynthesis plates - A retrospective analysis. J Craniomaxillofac Surg 2019;47(11):1767–1778. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcms.2019.08.006
  22. Lopez J, Reategui A, Yesantharao PS, et al. Open reduction, internal fixation, or maxillo-mandibular fixation for isolated, unilateral, tooth-bearing, mandibular body fractures in children. J Craniofac Surg 2021;32(1):73–77. DOI: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000006990
  23. Taylan Filinte G, Akan İM, Ayçiçek Çardak GN, et al. Dilemma in pediatric mandible fractures: resorbable or metallic plates? Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg 2015;21(6):509–513. DOI: 10.5505/tjtes.2015.23922
  24. Chocron Y, Azzi AJ, Davison P. Management of pediatric mandibular fractures using resorbable plates. J Craniofac Surg 2019;30(7):2111–2114. DOI: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000006002
  25. Chocron Y, Azzi AJ, Cugno S. Resorbable implants for mandibular fracture fixation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open 2019;7(8):e2384. DOI: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000002384
  26. Yadav P, Bhutia O, Bansal A, et al. Does closed treatment of paediatric mandibular condyle fractures result in restitutional remodelling? Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2021;59(7):798–806. DOI: 10.1016/j.bjoms.2021.01.016
  27. Staderini E, Patini R, Tepedino M, et al. Radiographic assessment of pediatric condylar fractures after conservative treatment with functional appliances- a systematic review. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020;17(24):9204. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17249204
  28. Stähli C, Eliades T, Papageorgiou SN. Functional appliance treatment for mandibular fractures: a systematic review with meta-analyses. J Oral Rehabil 2021;48(8):945–954. DOI: 10.1111/joor.13178
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.