USE OF ACRYLIC OCCLUSAL SPLINT AND DIRECT BONDED BRACKETS FOR INTERMAXILLARY FIXATION IN THE TREATMENT OF UNILATERAL PARASYMPHYSEAL AND CONDYLAR FRACTURES: A CASE REPORT

The aim of this case report was to present the treatment method used for a 22-year-old male patient with a history of mandibular fracture due to an assault. Unilateral parasymphyseal and condylar fractures were diagnosed on the computerized tomography (CT) images. The patient had a deviated open bite on the right side due to the injury. After preparing an acrylic occlusal splint according to the preinjury occlusion and direct bracket bonding, intermaxillary fixation (IMF) in combination with open reduction was planned for the patient. IMF was achieved with intermaxillary elastics. Four weeks after surgery, IMF was released and a few training elastics were kept for stability. Four months after injury, brackets and arch wires were removed. The patient experienced minimal discomfort. No signs of complication were observed during the healing period. The fractured segments were in good approximation. The occlusion of the patient was returned to the preinjury position. One year after injury, clinical evaluation showed that the occlusion was stable and healing at the fracture sites was good.