- published: 02 Dec 2009
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Mandibular fracture, also known as fractures of the jaw, are breaks through the mandibular bone. They usually occur due to trauma and are often associated with other facial trauma. The types of mandibular fractures include fractures at the symphyseal area, horizontal ramus, mandibular angle and condylar neck.
There are various classification systems of mandibular fractures in use.
This is the most useful classification, because both the signs and symptoms, and also the treatment are dependent upon the location of the fracture. The mandible is usually divided into the following zones for the purpose of describing the location of a fracture (see diagram): condylar, coronoid process, ramus, angle of mandible, body (molar and premolar areas), parasymphysis and symphysis.
This type of fracture involves the alveolus, also termed the alveolar process of the mandible.
Condylar fractures are classified by location compared to the capsule of ligaments that hold the temporomandibular joint (intracapsular or extracapsular), dislocation (whether or not the condylar head has come out of the socket (glenoid fossa) as the muscles (lateral pterygoid) tend to pull the condyle anterior and medial) and neck of the condyle fractures. E.g. extracapsular, non-displaced, neck fracture. Pediatric condylar fractures have special protocols for management.
Broken may refer to: