Surgical treatment of clinically infected mandibular fractures.

Purpose: To clarify reasons for infections, surgical techniques, and occurrence of postoperative surgical site complications in infected mandibular fractures.

Methods: Patients with clinically infected mandibular fracture of the dentate part without preceding surgery were studied retrospectively. Clinical infection was defined to occur if pus, abscess, or a fistula in the fracture area was present. Patient-, fracture-, and surgery-related variables were evaluated, and predictors for postoperative complications were analysed.

Results: Of 908 patients with surgically treated fracture in the dentate part of the mandible, 41 had infected fracture at the time of surgery (4.5%). Of these patients, 46.3% were alcohol or drug abusers. Median delay from injury to surgery was 9 days. Patient-related factors were the most common cause for delayed surgery (n = 30, 73.2%), followed by missed diagnosis by a health care professional (n = 8, 19.5%). Twenty-two fractures were treated via extraoral approach (53.7%) and the remaining 19 intraorally (46.3%). Postoperative surgical site complications were found in 13 patients (31.7%), with recurrent surgical site infections predominating. Notable differences between total complication rates between intraoral and extraoral approaches were not detected. Secondary osteosynthesis for non-union was conducted for one patient treated intraorally.

Conclusions: Postoperative surgical site complications are common after treatment of infected mandibular fractures, and these occur despite the chosen surgical approach. Infected mandibular fractures heal mainly without bone grafting, and non-union is a rare complication. Due to the high complication rate, careful perioperative and postoperative care is required for these patients.