Maxillofacial Injuries: Mandible Fractures

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Questions and Answers

What is the most vulnerable site on the mandible during road traffic accidents?

Angle of the mandible

Ramus of the mandible

Condyles of the mandible

Symphysis of the mandible (correct)

Which of the following is a consequence of a mandible fracture?

Weight loss averaging 5% of total body weight (correct)

Increased social interactions

Improved financial stability

Enhanced chewing ability

What is the origin of the term 'mandible'?

Italian term for bone

French word for jaw

Greek term for mouth

Latin term meaning 'to chew' (correct)

What happens to the mandibular symphysis during early childhood?

It fuses together Signup and view all the answers

Which structure may become traumatized during a mandibular fracture?

Inferior alveolar neurovascular bundle Signup and view all the answers

What type of bone formation occurs in the mandible during fetal development?

Fusion of mandibular prominences Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the mandible?

To aid in chewing Signup and view all the answers

What is the strongest bone in the facial skeleton?

Mandible Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the surgical angle of the mandible?

Junction between the body of the mandible and the ramus. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the mandibular angle considered a weaker structure.

It has an abrupt change in the orientation of bone grains. Signup and view all the answers

What impact can mesio-angular third molar impaction have on the mandible?

It predisposes the angle of the mandible to fractures. Signup and view all the answers

What occurs physiologically in the symphyseal area when excessive forces are applied to the mandible?

Fractures result from exceeding the bone's capacity to withstand forces. Signup and view all the answers

In the canine region of the mandible, what factor contributes to its vulnerability?

The presence of the strongest and longest root of the canine. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the tongue in the case of a bilateral fracture at the parasymphysis area?

It tends to fall back, potentially obstructing the airway. Signup and view all the answers

What anatomical structures give origin to the genioglossus and geniohyoid muscles?

Genial tubercles. Signup and view all the answers

How does the orientation of bone grains differ between the ramus and the body of the mandible?

The grains change direction at the angle of the mandible. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Introduction to the Mandible

The mandible is the only mobile bone in the maxillofacial region, forming the lower third of the face.
Vulnerable sites include the symphysis, prone to trauma in road traffic accidents and assaults.
Mandible fractures are common in the maxillofacial area and significantly impact patients' social lives.
Effects of mandible fractures on social life include:
- Absence from work and financial loss.
- Hospitalization leading to separation from family.
- Challenges in feeding and an average weight loss of 5% of total body weight.
- Increased mental stress and delayed recovery in compromised patients.

Etymology and Development

The term "mandible" comes from Latin "mandere," meaning "to chew," and "-bula," meaning "instrument"—translating to "instrument for chewing."
Formed in the fetus through fusion of left and right mandibular prominences at the midline articulating in the mandibular symphysis.
The symphysis consists of fibrocartilage, which fuses in early childhood.

Surgical Anatomy

The mandible has a horseshoe shape and is the strongest bone in the facial skeleton with thick cortices.
The symphysis is the most prominent part while condyles articulate with the glenoid fossa of the temporal bone.
The inferior alveolar neurovascular bundle traverses the mandible, risk of injury upon fracture may cause hematoma and neurological deficits.

Angle of the Mandible

The angle of the mandible is categorized into three types:
- Clinical angle: Junction of alveolar bone and ramus at the internal oblique ridge's origin.
- Surgical angle: Junction of mandible body and ramus at the external oblique ridge’s origin.
- Anatomical angle (gonion): Where the lower and posterior borders of the ramus meet.
The mandibular angle is structurally a weak area due to the thinness of the ramus.
Presence of impacted third molars in the angle region can predispose fractures, particularly if force is applied perpendicularly.

Canine Region of the Mandible

The canine area is another weak point; the canine's long and strong root occupies a significant space within the bone, potentially leading to fractures.

Symphysis and Parasymphysis of Mandible

The symphyseal area is particularly vulnerable to trauma, with compression of the outer cortex and expansion of the inner cortex.
Bilateral fractures in the parasymphysis may inhibit tongue control, leading to airway blockage, especially in unconscious patients, posing a risk of asphyxiation.

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Description

Explore the critical aspects of mandible fractures, the only mobile bone in the maxillofacial region. This quiz covers its vulnerabilities due to trauma, particularly in road traffic accidents and assaults, and discusses the social implications for affected patients.