AN ASSESSMENT OF C–REACTIVE PROTEIN FOR EARLY DETECTION OF POST–OPERATIVE INFECTION AFTER SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF MANDIBULAR FRACTURES

Dr. Anil Kumar Karanam; Dr. M. Sasidhar

Volume : V, Issue : III, March - 2016

AN ASSESSMENT OF C–REACTIVE PROTEIN FOR EARLY DETECTION OF POST–OPERATIVE INFECTION AFTER SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF MANDIBULAR FRACTURES

Dr. Anil Kumar Karanam, Dr. M. Sasidhar

Abstract :

Background: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the C–reactive protein (CRP) levels pre–operatively and post–operatively in patients with mandibular fracture treated by Open reduction and internal fixation with an objective to evaluate the uneventful healing of the surgical wound and mandibular fracture. Methods: We have evaluated CRP levels in 50 patients with mandibular fractures treated with open reduction and internal fixation. The blood samples were collected pre–operatively during hospitalisation and immediately before surgery, immediate post–operative, delayed post–operative (after 24 hrs), and on seventh post–operative day. Results: CRP levels were high preoperatively immediately after trauma because of body�s initial inflammatory response. An elevated response was noticed immediate post–operatively (mean value of 1.96 +_ 0.56 mg/dl). Delayed post–operative samples also showed a marked rise in CRP levels (mean value of 2.3 +_ 0.60 mg/dl). Later, there was a significant decrease in CRP levels (on seventh day mean value of 1.53 +_ 0.64 mg/dl), indicating an uneventful healing at the surgical and fracture site. Conclusion: Monitoring of CRP levels was found to be a better procedure for ensuring non–complicated uneventful healing of mandibular fractures post–operatively