What are the bones on both sides of the jaw called

There are a total of 206 bones in our body. Except for some that we are more familiar with, we actually don’t know the names of most of them. For example, the bones on both sides of the jaw are generally called the mandible. Although bones appear strong at times, they are also fragile. Many people suffer from mandibular dislocation due to careless bite, but this condition is also easy to treat.

In recent years, maxillofacial fractures have been on the rise year by year, the severity of injuries has become increasingly severe, and the injuries have become increasingly complicated. The mandible is located in an exposed part of the human body, and the incidence of its fracture ranks first among maxillofacial fractures. According to literature statistics, the incidence of mandibular fractures accounts for approximately 25% to 28% of maxillofacial injuries and 55% to 72% of maxillofacial bone fractures. Mandibular fractures are common in young men, with the chin being the most common, and are often combined with midface fractures. In recent years, they are mostly caused by traffic accidents. Solid internal fixation is a better treatment method.

1. Surgical approach

The choice of surgical approach for mandibular fractures is mainly based on the location and nature of the fracture line. The principle is to make the wound as hidden as possible while facilitating the operation and to minimize surgical trauma. The surgical approaches for mandibular fractures mainly include: extraoral approach, intraoral approach, combined extraoral and extraoral approach, and transwound approach. The choice of surgical approach for mandibular fractures is not static or fixed, but should be considered comprehensively based on the patient's specific injury and the patient's aesthetic requirements.

2. Fixation method

A. Intermaxillary fixation: Intermaxillary fixation (IMF) is a method of fixing the upper and lower dentition by ligating a dental arch splint or by elastic traction, thereby achieving fracture reduction and fixation. Its main purpose is to fix the fracture segment and restore the patient's occlusal relationship.

B. Rigid internal fixation. Since the 1960s, foreign countries have carried out research on the rigid internal fixation (RIF) system for mandibular fractures. After decades of clinical application, RIF technology has been proven to be the best method for treating mandibular fractures and has become the mainstream of mandibular fracture fixation today. Since RFI can meet the biomechanical requirements of the mandible, the effective three-dimensional stability changes the environment of the fracture area, thereby quickly restoring local blood supply, directly ossifying the fracture area, and accelerating fracture healing. RFI is suitable for mandibular fractures in any part of the body, whether the fracture is open, closed, infected or non-infected, and can achieve better therapeutic effects. It has incomparable advantages over conservative treatment. The current RIF series for mandibular fractures includes small or universal plates, lag screws, dynamic compression plates and centrifugal dynamic compression plates, self-locking plates and absorbable plate systems. The main types include ① small or universal plate system ② lag screw system ③ dynamic compression plate and centrifugal dynamic compression plate system ④ self-locking plate (nail) internal fixation ⑤ absorbable internal fixation system

C. Biological fixation: Its concept is to use internal fixation methods that focus on protecting blood supply during the treatment of mandibular fractures, and to perform reduction as far away from the fracture site as possible. Anatomical reduction of the fracture segment is not required, so as to maximize the protection of the periosteum and soft tissue attachment at the fracture site. At the same time, internal fixators with low elastic modulus are used and the contact area between the fixator and the bone cortex is reduced to provide a normal physiological environment for fracture healing.