What is the Effect of Treating Mandibular Fractures on Weight and Prealbumin?

Publication date: Available online 12 February 2019

Source: Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Author(s): Brian J. Christensen, Andrew G. Chapple, Brett J. King

Purpose

Fracture healing relies on the body to coordinate an inflammatory and anabolic reaction to re-establish osseous union. While many factors affect this process, or even disrupt it, the role of the body's nutritional reserves is not well understood. The purpose of the present study was to describe the weight changes and to identify trends in laboratory values commonly used in nutritional assessment during mandibular fracture treatment.

Methodsp

A prospective cohort study was designed. The study cohort included patients that sustained a mandible fracture from 9/1/17 to 3/31/18. The primary outcome variable was the percent weight change from baseline. Secondary outcome variables included serum albumin and serum prealbumin. Weight change was analyzed using a linear mixed model. Paired Wilcoxon tests were used to compare lab values to baseline levels.

Results

Thirty-nine patients met the inclusion criteria with sufficient follow up data for analysis. The linear mixed model predicts a peak weight loss of 4.1% of the initial body weight by day 34. Serum prealbumin increased over the study period (p<0.001) and albumin was increased from baseline at week 3 (p<0.05) but not significantly different from baseline after that time.

Conclusion

During the course of treatment for mandibular fractures, patients lost an average of more than four percent of their body weight. However, the study did not show any meaningful change in nutritional laboratory values. While it is important for patients and surgeons to be able to anticipate a weight loss of about 4-5% during mandibular fracture treatment, it is unlikely that this represents a large challenge to the nutritional status of the patient.

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