Introduction: Craniomaxillofacial fractures (CMF) are common in low-income countries (LIC). Due to limited resources, treatment of these fractures usually consists of interdental wiring or immobilization with a Barton bandage to maintain the reduction by permanent occlusion. These non-surgical treatment methods often lead to unsatisfactory results, such as a disturbed dental occlusion and lockjaw. The aim of this study is to present an off-label treatment option for CMF by applying a hand fixator as external face fixator (EFF) and to demonstrate the surgical method in detail.
Materials and methods: The feasibility and postoperative outcomes of this new off-label operation technique were evaluated by analyzing patients with CMF (n = 13) treated at an NGO hospital in Sierra Leone between 2015 and 2019.
Results: The application of the EFF was feasible. The biggest advantage compared to the conventional non-operative methods was, that a dynamic occlusion was still possible during the 6 weeks healing period. Hence, patients could eat and drink almost normally and perform dental hygiene with the EFF in place. We did not discover pintrack infections or other complications. Three patients developed an oronasal fistula due to traumatic a palatal bone loss of about 7-8 mm which was treated by a palatal mucoperiosteal flap 15-20 days after the first operation.
Discussion and conclusions: In LIC, where plate osteosynthesis for CMF cannot be performed due to limited resources the application of an EFF is a promising alternative for a better outcome and an improved quality of life for the patients.
Keywords: craniomaxillofacial fracture; external fixator; low-income countries; off-label treatment option.