Treatment of a jaw fracture - What is splinting after a jaw fracture

The lower jaw is subject to traumatic damage much more often than other bones of the facial part of the skull. Although it is one of the strongest bones, its mobility and protruding position make it susceptible to fractures. Up to 85% of all injuries to facial bones occur due to fractures of the lower jaw. These figures include both isolated fractures of the lower jaw and fractures with simultaneous damage to other bones of the facial skeleton.

Experts predict that the number of injuries to the lower jaw will only increase, as well as the nature of such injuries. This is facilitated by an increase in the number of vehicles, an increase in their speed limits, as well as complex technical equipment in production.

Before hospitalization

First aid to the victim includes:

stopping bleeding (pressing or packing the wound, applying cold);
if necessary, cardiopulmonary resuscitation;
pain relief (analgin, revalgin intramuscularly);
immobilization of the jaw with the help of fixing bandages (contraindicated if the victim is unconscious, since this increases the risk of suffocation from the retraction of the tongue or vomit entering the respiratory tract).

Osteosynthesis

Indispensable for complex, comminuted and multiple fractures with displacement, loose teeth and complete absence of teeth, for periodontal disease and other inflammatory diseases of the gums in the area of injury. Osteosynthesis is also effective in cases of fracture of the condylar process complicated by dislocation of the articular head of the lower jaw.

Fastening materials can be steel knitting needles and rods, pins, nitride-tinan wire with shape memory, quick-hardening plastics, polyamide thread, special glue.

However, osteosynthesis with metal miniplates is considered the most convenient and safe method today. They allow you to cut through the skin and muscles on only one side, which simplifies the operation itself and shortens the recovery period. Another undeniable advantage is the ability to reliably fix fragments in areas with significant dynamic loads.

Clinical signs

The injury can have both general signs of a jaw fracture and specific symptoms characteristic of each type according to the Le Fort classification.

General symptoms

Sharp pain when trying to close your mouth.
Displacement of the dental line and bite deformation.
Changes in the midface (pulling out or sinking into the skull).
Mobility of the jaw when pressed.
Bleeding from the mouth, ears, or nose.
Swelling of the face.
Presence of hematomas.

It is worth noting that internal injuries to the maxillofacial area are very insidious . They may not immediately manifest themselves in an obvious clinical picture. Sometimes the victim is even able to move independently. In this case, the anamnesis indicates a fracture of the jaw, but the symptoms are not clearly expressed. Such an injury can be quite life-threatening.

Signs according to Le Fort's classification

1st type

Sensation of a foreign body in the throat.
Hemorrhage in the orbital area (spectacles syndrome).
Inability to swallow or open the mouth.
Double vision, blurred vision.
Swelling to a round state of the face.
When sitting, the segment of the upper jaw drops, lengthening the face.
Displacement of the eyeballs.
On palpation, crunching of the bones in the area of the nose and eye sockets is observed.

2nd type

Numbness of the skin around the nose and lips.
Partial or complete loss of smell.
Bruising in the lower eyelid area.
Bleeding from the nasopharynx, mouth.
Crepitation in the area of the nasofrontal suture.

3rd type

Severe swelling of the face and lower lip.
The nostril fold disappears.
Sharp pain in the nose area.
Bite deformation, inability to chew.
Difficulty opening the mouth.

If for most fractures diagnostic issues are finally resolved with the help of radiography, then in the case of a fracture of the upper jaw, X-ray diagnosis is problematic. The point is that the gaps in the lateral projection of the skull illuminate two maxillary bones at once, which are layered on top of each other. Therefore, the degree of damage can only be determined by a survey radiograph showing the facet of the facial skeleton . But she is unable to identify fragments that have entered the skull in impacted fractures.

New types of diagnostics, such as magnetic resonance and computed tomography, come to the rescue. They make it possible to simultaneously detect damage to both the facial and intracranial bones.

Splinting the jaw

This is the immobilization (fixation) of bone fragments using a special plastic or wire structure.

The technique, created by military doctors at the beginning of the 20th century, is successfully used by dentists today. The materials used to make the splint have changed, and the methods of applying it have been improved.

Today, a specialist has many types of tires in his arsenal:

from standard Vasiliev tape splints, the simplest and cheapest method of treatment;
to aluminum Tigerschdedt splints, which are made individually for each patient, due to which they are more effective. In addition, they evenly distribute the load and minimally injure the teeth.

The type of splinting depends on the type of injury and can be unilateral (when one jaw is fractured) or bilateral (when both are damaged).

If the teeth are preserved, it is not difficult to apply a bent dental wire splint. It is bent to the shape of the dental arch and fixed with bronze-aluminum wire ligatures, which, like a hairpin, cover the tooth on both sides. Manipulations are performed under local anesthesia.

When both jaws are fractured, a structure with a more rigid base is installed; in addition to wire, hooks and rings are also used that immobilize the lower jaw.

International standards

A real revolution in maxillofacial surgery occurred in 1958, when M. Muller, M. Allgower, R. Schneider, H. Willenegger organized the International Association for the Study of Internal Fixation (AO/ASIF - Ardeitsgemeinschaft fur Osteosynthesefragen/Association for the Study of Internal Fixation – working association for the study of osteosynthesis/association for the study of internal fixation).

According to the postulates of AO/ASIF, the osteosynthesis technique implies that:

1. the structures used must be made of bioinert metal alloys;

2. bone fragments must be anatomically accurately compared and fixed;

3. the use of gentle surgical techniques ensures the preservation of blood supply to bone fragments and surrounding soft tissues;

4. stable fixation of fragments is ensured by interfragmentary compression;

5. early application of functional load is indicated;

6. restoration of contractile activity of muscles and movement in the joint.

AO/ASIF staff also developed and implemented metal plate systems for mandibular osteosynthesis:

· dynamic compression plates;

· reconstructive (blocking) plates (Locking reconstruction plates);

· blocking (locking) plates (Locking plates 2.0 mm);

· universal plates (Universal fracture plates);

· mandibular plates (Mandible (Mandible plates 2.0 mm).

They developed dynamic compression plates (DCP), through which it was possible to create compression between fragments for their primary fusion. The design of these plates includes oval holes with beveled walls, which allows the fragments to be brought closer together when the screws are tightened. The use of dynamic compression plates made it possible to achieve stable internal immobilization, reduced the number of cases of delayed fusion of fragments, and eliminated the need for additional fixation. But their use still does not eliminate the risk of microcracks in the area of the fracture line and the development of osteoporosis in the bone at the site of contact with the plate.

The locking plate/screw system, with threaded plate holes and locking screw heads, was developed to prevent bone necrosis under the plate. The system provides rigid fixation of bone fragments using a plate and a plate and screws to each other - this helps prevent the screws from unscrewing and avoid possible displacement of the fragments while tightening the screws in the hole of the plate. The plate itself is located at a certain distance from the surface of the bone, which prevents the development of lysis.

Foreign studies have not revealed significant differences in the effectiveness and possible development of postoperative complications during osteosynthesis with locking plates with screws and non-locking plates.

Another system developed by AO/ASIF experts is the LCP (locking compression plate system with angular stability) is a design of multi-cell plates with numerous holes and consists of two parts: a threaded one for fixing the head of a locking screw and a hole for creating dynamic compression by eccentric insertion of standard cortical or cancellous screws.

Installation of the plate requires special tools and is carried out according to clearly established technology.

If the adjustment of the LCP to the shape and relief of the outer surface of the lower jaw bone is carried out in accordance with the established requirements, then this creates ideal conditions for the fusion of fragments during osteosynthesis of multiple comminuted fractures of the lower jaw of various locations, in case of suppuration of a bone wound, traumatic osteomyelitis, in case of a fracture with the occurrence of a bone defect tissue, fracture of toothless jaws. Limited contact of LCP with bone helps prevent the development of bone necrosis under the plate.

Is it possible to do without splinting?

Even if the case is not severe - the fracture is one-sided, closed and without displacement - it is imperative to take measures to prevent the development of such unpleasant complications as:

accidental displacement of fragments,
re-injury
development of inflammation of soft tissues,
infection of the fracture site.

To do this, it is necessary to immobilize the jaw by any available method. This can be a sling bandage, but it is much more convenient and effective to use a splint. In case of a complicated fracture, splinting is absolutely indispensable, regardless of the location of the injury.

USING ARAMID FIBER

Also very popular is cable splinting of teeth with aramid thread, which has enormous strength. Experts have conducted several studies, during which it turned out that aramid fiber has eight times greater strength than piano steel with similar parameters.

This technique allows you to achieve excellent aesthetics and correction of the dentition in case of displacements caused by periodontal diseases, injuries and other reasons.
Aramid fiber is superior in durability to any other thread.
The material does not enter into chemical reactions with saliva and food, and has excellent biocompatibility.
Bone tissue stops rapidly atrophying.
Large gaps between teeth are eliminated. Consequently, the space between them is not clogged and the overall aesthetics are improved.
The natural load on the dentition is restored.
You can simultaneously install dentures to replace lost teeth.

Treatment tactics for displaced fractures

In such cases, before applying a splint, it is necessary to compare the jaw fragments, for which reduction orthopedic devices are used. A broken upper jaw requires traction using special dental splints.

Such injuries are very dangerous because they can cause asphyxia. But correctly provided first aid will prevent suffocation. Clear the oral cavity of foreign bodies or blood, lay the victim face down, placing a cushion rolled up from clothes, blankets, etc. up to the chest.

Rehabilitation after a jaw fracture

For successful treatment of a jaw fracture, anti-inflammatory and restorative therapy, physiotherapy, mechanotherapy and special oral hygiene are also important.

Within 3-4 days after the injury, antibiotics must be prescribed to prevent inflammation, which are injected directly into the area of injury.
General strengthening therapy is taking vitamins C, P, D and group B, drugs that stimulate tissue regeneration and restore the level of leukocytes in the blood.
Among the effective physical procedures, we note UHF therapy, general ultraviolet irradiation, and magnetic therapy. After the third procedure, swelling and pain are noticeably reduced, swelling subsides. For better healing of fragments, 2 weeks after a jaw fracture, electrophoresis is performed using a two to five percent solution of calcium chloride.
Mechanotherapy, or physical therapy, accelerates the restoration of jaw function and helps if, after an injury, the mouth opens poorly or does not open at all. It can also be practiced at home, starting 4-5 weeks after the fracture, when the splints are removed and a callus has formed.
Special hygiene involves irrigation at least 8-10 times a day. For unconscious victims, their teeth and mucous membranes are treated with a special solution at least twice a day.

WHY ARE TEETH SPLINTED?

We collected the main indications for this procedure and came up with five points:

With a non-standard direction of tooth growth.
In case of displacement of teeth in a row.
For chronic periodontal diseases that cause bleeding.
In cases where a large amount of deposits accumulate around the tooth root, which can lead to its destruction and tooth loss.
The presence of deep gum pockets, the appearance of which has led to significant exposure of the roots of the teeth.

How to eat?

Since during intensive therapy and during the recovery period the jaws are rigidly fixed and habitual chewing of food is out of the question, correction of the diet is necessary during this period.

Food should have the consistency of low-fat sour cream. These are broths, pureed soups, carefully chopped vegetables and fruits, milk drinks, liquid cereals. Spices are excluded, salt consumption is limited. The temperature of the dish should not be higher than 45-50 °C. The most convenient way to eat food is through a straw.

You need to gradually switch to your usual diet after removing the splint. This is important not only for restoring chewing functions, but also for preventing disorders in the gastrointestinal tract.

How much does it cost to treat a broken jaw?

The price depends on the nature of the injury, whether osteosynthesis was performed, what splints were used, and whether the patient attended physical therapy procedures. But let's say for sure that the service is not cheap. Osteosynthesis alone will cost from 14,000 to 55,000 rubles.

It is also necessary to consider the cost of subsequent dental treatment to restore lost teeth or damaged teeth after splinting. Our service will help you choose a competent specialist and not waste your money. Compare prices and services of different clinics, read reviews from real patients.

Recovery period

The period of restoration of jaw functionality depends on the following factors:

severity, type of fracture;
duration of treatment;
absence or presence of complications;
patient's age;
the presence of concomitant internal diseases.

Returning the joint to full function is not always possible. Here the responsibility and diligence of the patient himself comes to the fore. To restore healthy jaw function, you must strictly follow all prescribed recommendations. Long-term, scrupulous rehabilitation is the key to normal functioning of the jaw joints.

Rehabilitation measures:

Exercise therapy for developing joints. All exercises are performed with full amplitude, even with pain;
regular courses of therapeutic massage;
physiotherapeutic procedures - paraffin applications, mud therapy, ultrasound, electrophoresis with calcium, UV irradiation in winter;
gentle food.