Objective: The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of experimental fracture of the mandibular body on the growth of maxilla and mandible, by using one-month-old rats. Methods: These were distributed into two groups: experimental, which underwent a fracture of the right mandibular body, and sham-operated, which underwent the surgical access only. The animals were sacrificed at three months of age and, after dissection, the mandible was disarticulated. The skull was submitted to axial radiograph and the hemimandibles to a lateral radiograph. With these, cephalometric mensurations were made through a computer system, and the obtained values submitted to statistical analyses. Results: The length of the maxilla, as well as the height and length of the mandible presented significant difference with decrease to the right side, in the experimental group. In the sham-operated group there was significant difference with decrease to length of posterior part of the maxilla and to height and length of the mandible on the right side. The experimental group when compared to the sham-operated group was significantly lesser in all the mensurations of maxilla and mandible to both sides, except in mandibular length. Conclusion: It was concluded that fracture of the mandibular body, as well as the surgical access, had negative effects on growth of maxilla and mandible.
Mandible; Mandibular fractures; Maxillofacial development; Growth and development; Bone development; Animal; Animal models of diseases
