Dislocated Fractured Jaw - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Displacement of the temporomandibular joint results in a dislocated jaw. A break in one or both of the two maxillae or the mandible constitutes a fractured jaw. A broken or dislocated jaw usually heals completely after treatment. However, the jaw may become dislocated again in the future. Simple dislocations or fractures are usually caused by a manual blow along the jawline as may occur in cases of child, spouse, or elder abuse; more serious compound fractures frequently result from motor vehicle crashes. The patient may need an oropharyngeal airway, nasotracheal intubation, or a tracheotomy to help maintain an adequate airway.

Causes of Dislocated Fractured Jaw

The common causes and risk factor's of Dislocated Fractured Jaw:

• A manual blow along the jawline as may occur in cases of child, spouse, or elder abuse; more serious compound fractures frequently result from motor vehicle crashes.

Symptoms of Dislocated Fractured Jaw

Some sign and symptoms related to Dislocated Fractured Jaw are as follows:

• Pain in the face or jaw, located in front of the ear on the affected side, worse with movement.
• Inability to close the mouth.
• Jaw stiffness.
• Jaw tenderness or pain.
• Bleeding from the mouth.
• Teeth may not align normally.

Treatment of Dislocated Fractured Jaw

• Medications to relieve pain and anxiety and to prevent infection before and after surgery, if indicated.
• In dislocated jaw, manual reduction under anesthesia.
• In maxillary fracture, reconstruction and repair of soft-tissue injuries as necessary.
• Reimplantation of any lost teeth within 6 hours, if possible, while they're still viable (teeth and bone fragments aren't removed during surgery unless they have to be).
• In fractured jaw, surgical reduction and fixation by wiring to restore mandibular and maxillary alignmemt.