External fixation versus internal fixation in the treatment of patients with oral and maxillofacial trauma

  Objective  To compare the effect of external fixation and internal fixation on the treatment of patients with oral and maxillofacial trauma.

  Methods  Totally 150 patients with oral and maxillofacial trauma were randomly divided into control group (n=75) and observation group (n=75), and the patients in the two groups were treated with external fixation and internal fixation respectively. The operation indexes and recovery condition were compared between the two groups.

  Results  In the observation group, the operation time, hospital stay, degree of mouth opening, the incidence rates of postoperative infection, nonunion of wounds, skin erosion and nerve injury, and quality of life score were significantly better than those in the control group (P < 0.05).

  Conclusion  Compared with external fixation, internal fixation can significantly shorten the time of postoperative recovery and improve surgical efficiency in patients with oral and maxillofacial trauma.