Third Molar Eruption and Hardware Fungal Infection Following Treatment of Mandibular Angle Fracture.

Appropriate management of lower 3rd molars is crucial to successful treatment of mandibular angle fractures. A unique case of a patient who presented for initial management of a left mandibular angle fracture with an unerupted lower 3rd molar was discussed in this study. After treatment with open reduction and internal fixation of the fracture, the lower 3rd molar erupted and the patient subsequently developed fungal osteomyelitis and hardware failure. This was successfully treated with hardware removal, maxillomandibular fixation, and combined use of an intravenous antibiotic and oral antifungal.