Lag screw fixation of anterior mandibular fractures: a retrospective analysis of intraoperative and postoperative complications

Abstract

Purpose: To review, retrospectively, the outcomes of 102 patients who underwent lag screw technique fixation of fractures of the anterior mandible.

Patients and methods: A total of 102 consecutive, skeletally mature patients who have undergone open reduction internal fixation for fractures of the anterior mandible utilizing the lag screw technique were reviewed. All patients had a clinically mobile fracture between the mental foramina of the mandible. The patients were followed at usual postoperative intervals with shortest long-term follow-up of 2 months. Intraoperative and long-term postoperative outcomes including status of union, infection, and intraoperative surgical misadventure were recorded.

Results: Data from the 102 patients showed that there was 1 fixation failure due to inappropriate patient selection, 1 nonunion requiring bone grafting, 1 with infected screws but with union, 1 with an infected screw and delayed union treated conservatively, and 6 with broken drills from intraoperative surgical misadventures.

Conclusions: Lag screw osteosynthesis of anterior mandibular fractures is a sensitive, facile, predictable, and relatively inexpensive method for internal fixation of indicated fractures. As with all methods of rigid internal fixation, most failures or complications are the result of operator judgment or technique.