The need for treatment of a mandibular fracture requiring open reduction and internal fixation involving a plate arises when a patient sustains a severely displaced or unstable mandibular fracture—typically from significant trauma like a motorbike crash—resulting in jaw misalignment, severe pain, or inability to chew, necessitating surgical exposure under anesthesia with assistance in a hospital to reposition the bone and secure it with a metal plate for strong stabilisation. This procedure is indicated for the most complex mandibular fractures requiring durable fixation, critical in the maxillofacial region where jaw stability affects occlusion, speech, and function.
Several scenarios highlight the necessity of this intervention:
For example, a patient with a mandibular fracture from a fall might undergo open reduction with a titanium plate to align the jaw and ensure stability, with the assistant ensuring precise plate placement. In an aged care setting, an elderly patient with a severe mandibular injury could benefit from this to restore chewing ability, adjusted for their frailty and bone condition. By surgically repositioning and fixing the mandible with a plate, this service provides robust stability, improves function, and corrects deformity, making it a critical procedure for severe mandibular fractures within the maxillofacial framework.
Provides robust mandibular stability, restores jaw function, and corrects severe misalignment.
Recovery of 6-8 weeks with swelling, soft diet, and plate monitoring; hospital stay required.
