eMedicine Specialties > Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery > Trauma

Mandibular Body Fractures

Author: Jose E Barrera, MD, Clinical Faculty, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Wilford Hall Medical Center
Coauthor(s): Stephen G Batuello, MD, Consulting Staff, Colorado ENT Specialists
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Nov 11, 2008

Introduction

Fractures of the mandibular body may be classified by anatomic location, condition and position of teeth relative to the fracture, favorableness, or type.

Body fractures occur between the distal aspect of the canines and a hypothetical line corresponding to the anterior attachment of the masseter. These fractures are proximal to the third molar.

Mandible fractures are also described by the relationship between the direction of the fracture line and the effect of muscle distraction on fracture fragments. Mandible fractures are favorable when muscles tend to draw bony fragments together and unfavorable when bony fragments are displaced by muscle forces. Vertically unfavorable fractures allow distraction of fracture segments in a horizontal direction. These fractures tend to occur in the body or in symphysis-parasymphysis areas. Horizontally unfavorable fractures allow displacement of segments in the vertical plane.

Body fractures often are unfavorable because of the actions of the masseter, temporalis, and medial pterygoid muscles, which distract the proximal segment superomedially. Additionally, the mylohyoid muscle and anterior belly of the digastric muscle may contribute to the unfavorable nature of this fracture by displacing the fractured segment posteriorly and inferiorly.

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Frequency

In general, mandible fractures of the body, condyle, and angle have nearly the same incidence, while fractures of the ramus and coronoid process are rare. The literature suggests the following mean frequency percentages based on location: body (29%), condyle (26%), angle (25%), symphysis (17%), ramus (4%), and coronoid process (1%).

The mandible is involved in 70% of patients with facial fractures.

The number of mandible fractures per patient ranges from 1.5-1.8. Approximately 50% of patients with a mandible fracture have more than 1 fracture.

Etiology

Vehicular accidents and assaults are the primary causes of mandibular fractures worldwide. The mandible fracture patterns of a suburban trauma center found that violent crimes such as assault and gunshot wounds accounted for the majority of fractures (50%), while motor vehicle accidents were less likely (29%).

Data from industrialized nations suggest that fractures have various causes, as follows:

• Vehicular accidents - 43%
• Assaults - 34%
• Work-related causes - 7%
• Falls - 7%
• Sporting accidents - 4%
• Miscellaneous causes - 5%

Assault most often causes mandible angle fractures.

Pathophysiology

Optimal mandible function requires maintenance of normal anatomic shape and stiffness (ie, resistance to deformation under load). Normal occlusion can be defined when the mesiolabial cusp of the maxillary first molar approximates the buccal groove of the mandibular first molar. Fractures result secondary to mechanical overload. Torque results in spiral fractures, avulsion in transverse fractures, bending in short oblique fractures, and compression in impaction and higher comminution. A fracture in which one cortex of the bone is broken while the other cortex is bent is termed a greenstick fracture.

Degree of fragmentation depends upon energy stored as a result of overload prior to the fracturing process. Therefore, wedge and multifragmentary fractures are associated with high-energy release.

An evidence-based study involving 3002 patients with mandibular fractures found that the presence of a lower third molar may double the risk of an angle fracture of the mandible.¹

Presentation

History

Obtain a thorough history specific to preexisting systemic bone disease, neoplasia, arthritis, collagen vascular disorders, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction. Knowledge of the type and direction of the causative traumatic force helps determine the nature of injury. For example, motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) have a larger associated magnitude of force than assaults. As a result, a patient who has experienced an MVA most often sustains multiple, compound, comminuted mandibular fractures, whereas a patient hit by a fist may sustain a single, simple, nondisplaced fracture.

Knowing the direction of force and the object associated with the fracture also assists the clinician in diagnosing additional fractures.

Physical

Pertinent physical findings are limited to the injury site.

Change in occlusion may be evident on physical examination. Any change in occlusion is highly suggestive of mandibular fracture. Ask the patient how his or her bite feels.

Posttraumatic premature posterior dental contact (anterior open bite) and retrognathic occlusion may result from an angle fracture. Unilateral open bite is associated with a unilateral angle fracture.

Anesthesia, paresthesia, or dysesthesia of the lower lip may be evident. Most nondisplaced mandible fractures are not associated with changes in lower lip sensation; however, displaced fractures distal to the mandibular foramen (in the distribution of the inferior alveolar nerve) may exhibit these findings.

Change in facial contour or loss of external mandibular form may indicate mandibular fracture. A body fracture may cause the lateral aspect of the face to appear flattened. Loss of the mandibular body on palpation may be due to an unfavorable fracture. The anterior face may be displaced forward, causing elongation. In this case, the anterior mandible is displaced downward. Damage to the condylar growth center can cause retarded growth of the mandible and facial asymmetry in children.

Lacerations, hematoma, and ecchymosis are associated with mandibular fractures. Lacerations may provide diagnostic evidence of the type of fracture sustained. Hematoma and ecchymosis may alert the clinician to a mandibular fracture. Do not close facial lacerations before treating underlying fractures. Ecchymosis in the floor of the mouth is a diagnostic sign of a mandibular body or symphysis fracture.

Pain, swelling, redness, and localized heat are signs of inflammation evident in primary trauma.

Indications

Use the simplest means possible to reduce and fixate a mandibular fracture. Because open reduction carries an increased morbidity risk, use closed techniques whenever possible. Indications for closed reduction include (1) nondisplaced favorable fractures, (2) grossly comminuted fractures, (3) edentulous fractures (using a mandibular prosthesis), (4) fractures in children with developing dentition, and (5) coronoid and condylar fractures.

Indications for open reduction include (1) displaced unfavorable angle, body, or parasymphyseal fractures, (2) multiple facial fractures, (3) bilateral displaced condylar fractures, and (4) fractures of an edentulous mandible (with severe displacement of fracture fragments in an effort to reestablish mandible continuity).

Relevant Anatomy

The body or horizontal ramus of the mandible usually includes the third molar and is bounded anatomically from the distal symphysis to a line coinciding with the alveolar border of the masseter muscle.

Contraindications

Evaluate and monitor patients' general physical conditions prior to treating mandibular fractures.

Any force capable of causing a mandibular fracture also may injure other organ systems. Case reports have documented concurrent posttraumatic thrombotic occlusion of the internal carotid artery and basilar skull fractures.

Bilateral cervical subcutaneous emphysema, pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, and spleen lacerations also have been associated with mandible fractures after trauma.

Patients should not undergo surgical reduction of mandible fractures until these issues are addressed.

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