What is Mandibular Fracture?
A mandibular break is a busted jaw or fractured jaw . This is the most vulgar facial combat injury after collapse / fractured nozzle . A mandibular fracture or broken jaw is the 10th most vernacular cracking in human beings . The cause of mandibular fracture or any other fracture for that matter is direct trauma or force to the mandible or jawbone . hands are thrice more likely to keep up a mandibular fracture or broken jaw than women .
The lower jaw or the lower jaw is the main bone and the large ivory of the lower realm of the case . The primary areas of the mandible bone let in the body ( which extends from the chin to the jaw angle ) and the rami , which are the two up branches of the mandibula .
Causes of Mandibular Fracture or Broken Jaw
Signs & Symptoms of Mandibular Fracture or Broken Jaw
Serious Symptoms of Mandibular Fracture (Broken Jaw)
patient role should seek contiguous medical care if he / she has suffered an injury after which their teeth do not fit together correctly , or if there is swelling , trouble speaking and bleeding inside the mouth . The evaluation of the jawbone hurt should be done at the hospital and the patient should get someone else to drive him / her to the hospital and not labor themselves .
One of the serious consequence of mandibular cracking is difficulty breathing from the passing of support to the knife . So , if the patient is having any trouble in breathing , then it needs to be addressed immediately .
Classification of Mandibular Fracture or Broken Jaw
Classification Based on the Location of Mandibular Fracture
This assortment is the most utilitarian , as the treatment and the symptom bet on the placement of the mandibular fracture or broken jaw . The jaw bone or the mandible is divided into the following regions :
Alveolar Fracture of the Jaw Bone : This type of inframaxillary fault or broken jaw involves the air sac , which is the alveolar process of the mandible .
Condylar Fracture of the Jaw Bone : This type of mandibular break or broken jaw is classified by position when compared to the ligament capsule , which contains the temporomandibular joint ( extracapsular or intracapsular ) , dislocation , i.e. if the condylar read/write head has rive out of the socket and cervix of the condyle fractures , for instance non - displaced , extracapsular , cervix fracture .

Coronoid Process Fracture of the Jaw Bone : As the coronoid process of the jaw os is locate deeply into various structures , ( admit the zygomatic composite ) , it seldom is fractured on its own . The geological fault of the coronoid unconscious process often occurs with fault of the zygomatic composite or arch or other mandibular fractures .
Ramus Fracture of the Jaw Bone : Ramus fractures involve an area which is take a hop inferiorly by an devious line that run from the region of the lower third grinder to the posteroinferior attachment of the masseter musculus .
Fracture of Angle of the Mandible : The angle of the mandible is formed by the dead body of the jowl and the ramus . Angle fracture of the mandible are those which involve a triangular area that is gird by the prior border of masseter muscle and a slanting groove which travels from the area of the low third grinder to the posteroinferior attachment of the masseter heftiness .
Body : Mandibular body shift are those which regard an sphere that is restrain anteriorly by the parasymphysis and posteriorly by the prior delimitation of the masseter musculus .
Parasymphysis Fracture of the Jaw Bone : Parasymphyseal fractures are those fracture where the geological fault land site consists of an area that is surrounded on both face by vertical lines give by from the eye tooth tooth .
Symphysis Fracture of the Jaw Bone : Symphyseal fractures are linear fractures which travel in the midline of the mandible .
Types of Mandibular Fracture or Broken Jaw
Mandibular fracture or broken jaw are also classified calculate on stipulation of the fragment of the bone at the website of fracture and also on the presence of communication with the outside environment .
Simple Mandibular Fracture : In this type of mandibular fracture or busted jaw , there is over transection of the bone with very less atomisation at the website of the fracture .
Comminuted Mandibular Fracture : This eccentric of mandibular break or humiliated jaw is the opponent of a dewy-eyed fracture . In comminuted fracture , the jaw pearl gets shattered into multiple shard or patient will have subaltern fracture along with the principal fracture lines . The causes of comminuted break commonly are high speed injuries .
Greenstick Mandibular Fracture : These are incomplete fractures of osseous tissue that is flexile ; and because of this , they usually come about only in children . Greenstick break unremarkably has limited mobility .
Compound Mandibular Fracture : In this character of mandibular fracture or wiped out jaw , there is communication with the external surroundings that can hap through the facial skin or through the oral cavity . If there is involvement of the tooth - suffer portion of the jaw in mandibular fractures , then they are known as compound cracking , as there is communicating with the oral dental caries through the periodontal ligament . In cases of more displaced fractures , there will be obvious lachrymation of the alveolar and gingival mucosa .
Involvement of Teeth in Mandibular Fracture
discussion also reckon if the fracture has occurred in the tooth suffer part of the jawbone and if it is edentulous ( no teeth ) or dentate . Wiring of the dentition is done to stabilize the crack ; so , discussion depends on whether it is edentulous submaxilla i.e. no teeth or whether there are teeth present . If the edentulous mandibula is less than 1 cm in height , then there are extra risk of exposure , as the blood stream from the marrow gets reduced and the healing bone is subordinate on the blood supply from the periosteum , which encircles the os . If a child endure from mandibular fracture with mixed dentition , then there is different treatment protocol want .
Displacement is the degree or extent of the breakup between the bone segments . If the separation is great , then it is more unmanageable to bring ( approximate ) the os segments back together .
Favorability for ulterior body and angle geological fault , if the fracture line slant leans back , then the muscles help in institute the fracture segment together and this character of inframaxillary fault or unkept jaw is known as favorable . If the angle of the break is tilting to the front , then it is known as unfavorable inframaxillary fracture or humbled jaw .
Diagnosis of Mandibular Fracture or Broken Jaw
A physical exam is take and x - ray of light are ordered . During the physical exam , the Doctor of the Church will carry out a general review of the patient role ’s facial prominence , bruising and deformity . Then the doctor will examine or feel the jawbone through the pelt . The jawbone or the jaw os is assess . After the external examination is done , an internal test is carried out where the doc will look inside the mouth . The patient is asked to bite down , so the doc can check the affected role ’s teeth for conjunction . The stableness of the mandible or jaw bone is checked . Tongue blade trial is carry out where tongue blade / knife depressor is placed between the patient ’s teeth and train whether the patient is capable to take hold the blade in place .
Panoramic x - ray done completely around the jaw is the good cover mental testing to tail for mandibular fracture or crushed jaw . If the initial reputation is negative , then CT scan can be done to look for mandibular fault .
Treatment of Mandibular Fracture or Broken Jaw
Conservative discourse for mandibular fracture or busted jaw consists of lotion of ice to the jaw . This will facilitate in controlling the swelling when the patient is on the way to the doctor . In some cases , a newspaper cup may be needed to pitter-patter blood or to catch the drool of the patient .
Medical Treatment for Mandibular Fracture or Broken Jaw : Many of the patient suffer from jaw bother after an injury will not have discontinue jaw and are normally prescribed pain medications and are instruct to eat a balmy diet . Further valuation is needed for patient role who really have mandibular fracture ( broken jaw ) . Many inframaxillary break or broken jaw are associated with tissue paper impairment and gum problem and should be consider as open break . discussion is started with antibiotic drug . Patient is given a tetanus shot and nuisance killers are dictate . If the mandible fracture is stable , then intervention consist of wire the upper and lower tooth together which is done by unwritten and maxillofacial sawbones .
Surgery for inframaxillary break or busted jaw is needed for unstable break where plate are used across the crack , so that the patient has normal movement of the jaw bone or mandible and is able-bodied to rust sometime after surgery . onetime mandibular fractures are thought to have higher infection and non - union rates . Most of the mandibular or jaw fractures need surgical operation and due to this ground , it is crucial to regularly conform to up with your surgeon , take the complete antibiotics grade as prescribed and follow dietary recommendations .
Prevention of Mandibular Fracture or Broken Jaw
As majority of the inframaxillary fracture or broken jaw occur as result of assaults and motor vehicle fortuity , the good way to prevent them is driving carefully and pick out your company sagely . During sports activities , it is stringently advisable to break protective appurtenance .
Prognosis of Mandibular Fracture or Broken Jaw
Mandibular fracture or broken jaw , which are stable do not need operation and can be managed with pain in the neck medicine and dietetical change . Depending on the location and nature of the fracture , surgery may be needed to limit the fracture . The healing time required is around 4 to 6 weeks for a unremarkable mandible fracture where strict inner infantile fixation ( RIF ) or maxillo - mandibular regression ( MMF ) is used . In mandible fractures , patients receive MMF will have more weight loss and it takes a longer time for them to recover their mouth hatchway ; whereas , higher transmission rates are associated with patients receiving rigid internal regression ( RIF ) .
The unwashed retentive - condition complication from mandibular fracture or broken jaw and its surgery is malocclusion , loss of esthesis in the mandibular nerve and loss of teeth in the fracture ancestry . Condylar break have increased risk of malocclusion , which in turn depends on the level of dislocation / displacement of the jaw . There is increased peril of late - term degenerative joint disease if the mandible geological fault is intracapsular . Condylar fracture in nestling have high rates of ankylosis with chances of disturbance in ontogenesis . In very rarified face , mandibular cracking or unkept jaw can lead to Frey ’s syndrome .
Overall , the prognosis is well if the affected role follows doctor ’s instructions , the urge diet and train the required antibiotic course and regularly adopt up .