J Korean Assoc Maxillofac Plast Reconstr Surg.  2001 Sep;23(5):471-471.

CONSERVATIVE CARE OF NONUNION OWING TO OSTEOMYELITIS ASSOCIATED WITH FRACTURE OF MANDIBLE: REPORT OF 3 CASES

• Kim JB
• Yoo JH
• choi BH

Abstract

Failure to use effective methods of reduction, fixation, and immobilization may lead to nonunion with osteomyelitis, owing to the compound nature of most fractures of the mandible. Nonunion results in fibrous pseudoarthrosis at the fracture site with instability that, once formed, does not improve spontaneously. Once the nonunion with osteomyelitis secondary to fractures has become established, intermaxillary fixation and drainage of infected tissue should be instituted as early as possible, because the fixation & drainage enhances the patient comfort and hinders ingress of microorganisms & debris by movement of bone fragments. The authors treated three cases of nonunion with osteomyelitis by intermaxillary fixation, incision & persistent drainage on the previous fistula site and endodontic drainage of infected teeth in the fracture site of mandible. The localization & sequestration of the infected bone around the fracture was better performed persistently by natural homeostatic mechanism in 8~10 weeks and the bony union was then attained without bone grafting.

Keyword

Mandible fracture osteomyelitis; Nonunion; endodontic drainage; persistent drainage

MeSH Terms

Bone Transplantation
Drainage
Fistula
Humans
Immobilization
Mandible*
Osteomyelitis*
Pseudarthrosis
Tooth