Fracture patterns, associated injuries, management, and treatment outcomes of 530 pediatric mandibular fractures.

BACKGROUND: Mandibular fractures account for up to 48.8% of pediatric facial fractures; however, there are a wide range of available treatment modalities, and few studies describe trends in adverse outcomes of these injuries. This study describes fracture etiology, pattern, management, and treatment outcomes in pediatric mandibular fracture patients. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of patients under 18 years of age who were evaluated for mandibular fractures at a pediatric level I trauma center between 2006 and 2021. Variables studied included demographics, etiology, medical history, associated facial fractures, other associated injuries, treatments, and outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 530 pediatric patients with 829 mandibular fractures were included in the analysis. Most isolated mandibular fractures were treated with physical therapy (PT) and rest (n=253, 47.7%). Patients with combination fractures, specifically those involving the parasymphysis and angle, were 2.63 times more likely to undergo surgical management compared to patients with a single facial fracture (p<0.0001). Older age (p<0.001), gender (p=0.042), mechanism (p=0.008) and cause of injury (p=0.002), as well as specific fractures (e.g., isolated angle (p=0.001)) were more associated with adverse outcomes. The odds of adverse outcomes were higher for patients treated with CREF or ORIF compared to conservative management (OR=1.8; 95% Cl 1.0-3.2 and OR=2.1; 95% Cl 1.2-3.5, respectively). CONCLUSION: Fracture type, mechanism of injury, and treatment modality in pediatric mandibular fractures are associated with distinct rates and types of adverse outcomes. Large scale studies characterizing these injuries are critical for guiding physicians in the management of these patients.