Secondary Treatment of Mandibular Bone Fracture Using Sagittal Split Osteotomy and Segmentation of the Mandible: A Case Report

Abstract

The secondary treatment of mandibular bone fractures poses a great challenge due to the complexity of several factors, such as incorrect primary fracture repositioning, inadequate internal fixation, nonunion, necrosis, local inflammation and infection, tooth loss, and malocclusion, serving as obstacles encountered by surgical teams. The aim of this case report is to detail the planning process, surgical technique, and outcome of the secondary treatment of the post-traumatic deformation, bone exposure, and partial necrosis of the mandible. The new approach described herein incorporated 3D planning and printing procedures, employing surgical techniques such as the segmentation of the mandible with unilateral sagittal split osteotomy and the vertical osteotomy of the mandibular body. New, stable occlusion; appropriate spatial relations; and proper osteosynthesis of the mandible were achieved. The encouraging results obtained demonstrate that the described method can be incorporated in similar cases of the secondary treatment of mandibular fractures and possibly lead to shorter hospitalization and convalescence and lower the associated costs.

Keywords

• 3D printing
• sagittal split osteotomy
• mandible fracture
• secondary reconstructive surgery
• case report