THE INFLUENCE OF MANDIBULAR GONIAL ANGLE ON FRACTURE SITE

Purpose The mandibular angle is influenced by multiple codependent morphological dynamic factors such as osseous anatomy, forces exerted by the muscles of mastication, occlusal loading patterns and anatomical structures. These factors can influence the presence of a fracture in this area. The research aimed at investigating a potential correlation between the risk of angle fractures and age, gender, etiology of fracture, gonial angle size, presence of mandibular third molars or presence of occlusal support. Methods Retrospective cohort study composed of patients treated for mandibular fractures between the years 2007 to 2018. The primary predictor variable was gonial angle and primary outcome variable was site of fracture. Other study variables included demographic data, fracture etiology, third molar status and presence of occlusal support. Appropriate uni-, bi-, and multi-variate statistics were applied and statistical significance was set at p-value Results Of 332 isolated mandibular fractures included, 109 were angle fractures, 165 condylar, and 58 body or symphysis. The mean age of patients with angle fractures was 25.5 years, compared to 31.3 and 32.7 years in condylar and body/symphysis fractures, respectively. The mean gonial angle of patients with angle fractures was 125.4°, compared to condylar and body/symphysis with 120.9° and 120.2°, respectively. The variables that were found predictable for angle fractures were wider gonial angle and the presence of third molars. Conclusion Third molars and gonial angle are predictors for localization of mandibular fractures. Wide gonial angles and the presence of third molars are predictors of mandibular angle fractures.