Mandible fractures

The mandible is one of the most frequently fractured facial bones and the most commonly fractured bone in the multiply injured patient. Mandibular fractures account for approximately 20 % of all facial fractures. Motor vehicle accidents and physical altercations are the most common causes of mandible fractures. Understandably, they occur more commonly in males and younger patients. Areas of structural weakness in the bone are the neck, the subcondylar region, and the angle, all of which are frequently seen areas of fracture. The presence or absence of teeth will also contribute to the location of the fracture. Greater than one half of all mandible fractures are multiple; therefore, one should always look for a second site of fracture. Mandibular fractures may be closed injuries or open through the skin externally or through the mucosa intraorally (compound fractures). Equally important is the incidence of concomitant cervical spine injury, which may be present in 2–3 % of patients.