Rehabilitation after Miniplate Fixation of High-Condylar Fracture.

Park, Jun Ho; Hwang, Kun; Lee, Se Il

Original Article

Journal of Korean Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association 2005;6(2):119-122.

Department of Plastic Surgery, College of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon, Korea. jokerhg@inha.ac.kr

Abstract

We introduce a simple rehabilitation program after the miniplate fixation of high-condylar fracture of mandible. Intermaxillary fixation with arch bar is used. The length of the fixation period is about 14 days after surgery. At the end of this period, the bracket is applied to maxillary incisor, the occlusion becomes stable and reproducible and then aggressive jaw opening excercise begins. From postoperative day 15 to 21, elastics are applied 24 hours a day. They are placed lightly during the daytime to assist guiding protrusion of the mandible. The patient is instructed to protrude the mandible and to open the mouth simultaneously. From postoperative day 22 to 28, the exercise is modified to lateral movement. After the bracket is removed on postoperative day 29, the patient excercised the chin laterally without any guiding elastic fixation for approximately 1 week. This regimen can be widely used in ostectomy-osteosynthesis cases.

Keywords: Mandibular condyle; Fracture fixation; Rehabilitation