抄録
The treatment of facial fractures in pediatric patients should consider the degree of bone fragment deviation, occlusal status, tooth development, and patient’s age and level of cooperation with treatment. For pediatric mandibular fractures, closed reduction, such as with circummandibular wires, external fixation, and intermaxillary fixation with chin caps, has been widely used. However, if conservative treatment is insufficient to repair and fix the bone fragments, open reduction and internal fixation are the treatment options. In the present case, we treated a 9-month-old infant with mandibular midline fractures and bilateral mandibular condyles due to traffic trauma. Because the bone fragment of the symphysis had excessive deviation, an absorbable plate was used for open reduction and internal fixation. To increase the mechanical strength, closed reduction and fixation were achieved using circummandibular wires and a custom-made splint in the alveolar region. Nine months postoperatively, there was no obvious functional impairment in jaw movement, and the mandibular deciduous anterior tooth had erupted. We believe that osteosynthesis with circummandibular wires using a splint may be a treatment option, considering the damage to the tooth germ.
