Management of Mandibular Fractures

The mandible is a bone that is particularly vulnerable to injury because it projects outwards from the facial skeleton. Mandibular injuries generate a lot of interests because of the cosmetic and functional deformities that affected individuals may suffer. Early identification and appropriate treatment of these injuries is required in order to achieve a good outcome. The management experience in a semi-urban tertiary hospital in Nigeria is presented with three illustrative cases. The three cases had fracture of the body of the mandible by three different modes of transportation. The diagnosis, investigations, treatment options and possible outcome are also discussed. Keywords : Fractures, Mandible, Radiology, Treatment Nigerian Journal of Orthopaedics and Trauma Vol. 7 (1) 2008 pp. 26-28