The Conservative Treatment of Pediatric Mandible Fracture With External Nasal Splint.

Introduction: The frequency of mandible fractures is relatively less in children compared with adults, but their treatment is significantly more challenging due to the concerns regarding mandible growth and the developing dentition. The authors have introduced a new way of closed reduction by using external nasal splints. Methods: In 3 patients aged between 4 and 6-year old with parasymphyseal and body fractures of mandible, fractures were reduced under general anesthesia and thermoplastic nasal splints were directly formed and trimmed to fit the lingual surface of mandible. Splints were fixed to mandible with circummandibular wiring and were retained in place for 3 weeks. Results: All fractures healed uneventfully and the occlusion in all patients was satisfactory. All patients gained good masticatory efficiency. There was no need to use the intermaxillary fixation in any of the patients. Conclusion: Using thermoplastic external nasal splint for fracture stabilization in children is an easy, rapid, nonexpensive, and conservative way to treat mandible fractures in pediatric patients. (C) 2016 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.

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