OPEN-PACKING METHOD FOR THE SEVERELY COMMINUTED FRACTURED MANDIBLE DUE TO MISSILE INJURY

A new approach is introduced to treat a severely comminuted fractured mandible due to missile injury, whereby denuded bony pieces are re-incorporated into the defect. These are then immobilized by open-packing with iodoform ribbon gauze. The pack is changed regularly every 10-14 days until the cavity is completely obliterated with healthy granulation tissue by which time the mandible shows good consolidation with re-alignment of all displaced bony fragments. The method is simple, safe, does not need an expert surgeon and avoids the need for a future bone graft. Iodoform packs were used in different sites of the facial skeleton and none of our patients showed signs of sensitivity to iodoform or to iodine toxicity.