Effect of Third Molar on Postoperative Infection after Reduction of the Mandibular Angle Fracture

Choi, Moon Gi; Min, Seung Ki; Lee, Dong Keun; Oh, Seung Hwan

Abstract

Any fracture passing through the socket of a teeth is compounded intraorally, even if the fracture is not displaced and the tooth is firm in its socket. Before the advent of antibiotic therapy the danger of infection in a compounded fracture posed severe problems in treatment. Infection is reduced by antibiotic therapy but prolonged use of antibiotics is not justified in an attempt to save a tooth which might eventually be sacrificed. There is still controversy in the management of third molar in mandibualr angle fracture, particulary in regard to their retention or removal at the time of fracture treatment. So we surveyed the 159 patients who were treated with open reduction of mandibular angle fracture containing third molar in fracture line, and compared with the postoperative infection rate depending on time intervals between injury and operation, eruption state of third molar, non-extraction or extraction of third molar related to eruption state, non-extraction or extraction of third molar related to condiition of third molar and its surrounding periodontium and were to propose treatment guidline of third molar in mandibular angle fracture. The results obtained were as follows: 1. There were no statistical significance between the time from injury to operation and postoperative infection. 2. There were no statistical significance between eruption state of third molar and postoperative infection. 3. In case of retention of the third molar, there were no statistical significance between eruption state of third molar and postoperative infection, but in case of extraction, postoperative infection was high rate in complete impacted cases. 4. There were no statistical significance between non-extraction or extraction of third molar and postoperative infection depending on condition of third molar. There are no difference in infection rate statistically according to the time from injury to operation, eruption state and condition of third molar, but retention of third molar revealed lowered infection rate in completely impacted cases. By terms of the manegement of third molar, we should extract or preserve third molar in the line of the mandibular angle fracture according to possibility of infection.