Title: Effect of fracture healing on the fixation of a parasymphyseal mandibular fracture: a study using the finite element method

Authors: Scott T. Lovald, Tariq Khraishi, Jon Wagner, Bret Baack, John Wood

Addresses: Mechanical Engineering Department, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA. ' Mechanical Engineering Department, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA. ' Department of Surgery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA. ' Department of Surgery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA. ' Mechanical Engineering Department, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA; Manufacturing Engineering Program, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA

Abstract: Trauma surgeries involving rigid internal fixation of mandibular fractures are often supplemented with a short postoperative period of Intermaxillary Fixation (IMF) or soft diet to delay patient functioning. A finite element model of the human mandible with a parasymphyseal fracture was created and anatomically loaded to determine the effect of fracture healing on measures associated with complications. Stress and strain measures were recorded while the stiffness of the fracture was increased to mimic fracture healing. According to the results of the model, delaying normal functioning for two weeks decreases stress and strain measures up to 50%.

Keywords: human mandibles; mandibular fracture; intermaxillary fixation; maxillomandibular fixation; rigid internal fixation; finite element method; FEM; FEA; bone plate; craniomaxillofacial; trauma surgery; parasymphyseal fracture; biomedical engineering; fracture healing; stress measurement; strain measurement; stiffness.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBET.2007.015861

International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, 2007 Vol.1 No.2, pp.204 - 217

Published online: 25 Nov 2007 *

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