PMID- 36277531 OWN - NLM STAT- PubMed-not-MEDLINE LR - 20221025 IS - 2168-8184 (Print) IS - 2168-8184 (Electronic) IS - 2168-8184 (Linking) VI - 14 IP - 9 DP - 2022 Sep TI - Evaluation of Masticatory Forces in Patients Treated for Mandibular Fractures: A Case-Control Study. PG - e29295 LID - 10.7759/cureus.29295 [doi] LID - e29295 AB - Purpose:​​​​​ This study aimed to evaluate the masticatory forces in patients treated for mandibular fractures. To assess the magnitude of damage to the masticatory system caused by the various mandibular fractures and the period required for their normalization. Materials and Methods: Data were recorded from the authentic and original bite force measurement device from 2015 to 2017. The sample was composed of 30 isolated mandible fractures patients, Group 1 consisting 15 patients with unilateral mandible fractures, Group 2 consisting 15 patients with bilateral mandible fractures, treated with ORIF (open reduction immobilization fixation) under general anesthesia, and Group 3 was a control group. Predictor variables were drawn from predefined intervals for three months (ninth POW) postoperative week. The condition of wound healing was checked, and masticatory forces are measured at the first, fourth, sixth, and ninth postoperative weeks and compared with a control group of the same age and gender. The outcome variables were the success rate and associated complications. Results: For the study, a total of 30 patients with 15 bilateral and 15 unilateral isolated mandibular fractures were included. The study result suggests that the patient had lower bite forces relative to the control group at all intervals. All patients showed a significant increase in the bite force values from the first to the fourth postoperative weeks (p = ‹0.001), which also increased significantly from the fourth to sixth postoperative weeks (p = ‹0.001), and from the sixth to the ninth week. Conclusion: ​​​​ Based on the results obtained from our study, we conclude that there is a temporary adverse effect on masticatory forces. Fracture of the bilateral mandible has a stronger influence on bite force than unilateral mandible fracture. These fractures also take a longer time to normalize. CI - Copyright (c) 2022, Salunkhe et al. FAU - Salunkhe, Shrutika M AU - Salunkhe SM AD - Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dr. D. Y. Patil Dental College and Hospital, Dr D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune, IND. FAU - Kadam, Harshawardhan AU - Kadam H AD - Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Bharatividyapeeth Dental College and Hospital, Sangli, IND. FAU - Nakhate, Manisha AU - Nakhate M AD - Department of Anatomy, Dr. DY Patil Medical College, Nerul, IND. FAU - Edsor, Effie AU - Edsor E AD - Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Sree Mookambika Institute of Dental Sciences, Kulasekaram, IND. FAU - Kamble, Ranjit AU - Kamble R AD - Department of Orthodontics, Sharad Pawar Dental College & Hospital, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha, IND. FAU - Vadane, Ashvini Kishor AU - Vadane AK AD - Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, M.A. Rangoonwala College of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, Pune, IND. LA - eng PT - Journal Article DEP - 20220918 PL - United States TA - Cureus JT - Cureus JID - 101596737 PMC - PMC9578546 OTO - NOTNLM OT - bilateral fracture OT - bite force measuring device OT - functional masticatory force OT - mandibular fractures OT - unilateral fracture COIS- The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. EDAT- 2022/10/25 06:00 MHDA- 2022/10/25 06:01 PMCR- 2022/09/18 CRDT- 2022/10/24 04:35 PHST- 2022/08/01 00:00 [received] PHST- 2022/09/09 00:00 [accepted] PHST- 2022/10/24 04:35 [entrez] PHST- 2022/10/25 06:00 [pubmed] PHST- 2022/10/25 06:01 [medline] PHST- 2022/09/18 00:00 [pmc-release] AID - 10.7759/cureus.29295 [doi] PST - epublish SO - Cureus. 2022 Sep 18;14(9):e29295. doi: 10.7759/cureus.29295. eCollection 2022 Sep.