The need for treatment of a mandibular fracture requiring open reduction arises when a patient sustains a displaced or unstable mandibular fracture—typically from trauma such as a sports injury or assault—resulting in jaw misalignment, pain, or chewing difficulty, necessitating surgical exposure under anesthesia with assistance in a hospital to manually reposition the bone without additional fixation if stability is achieved post-reduction. This procedure is indicated for moderately complex mandibular fractures manageable by reduction alone, critical in the maxillofacial region where jaw alignment affects occlusion, speech, and function.
Several scenarios highlight the necessity of this intervention:
For example, a patient with a mandibular fracture from a fight might undergo open reduction to align a displaced segment and relieve pain, with the assistant ensuring accurate bone positioning. In an aged care setting, an elderly patient with a mandibular injury from a fall could benefit from this to regain chewing ability, adjusted for their frailty and bone quality. By surgically exposing and repositioning the mandible, this service restores jaw alignment, improves function, and alleviates pain, making it an effective procedure for mandibular fractures requiring direct intervention within the maxillofacial framework.
Restores mandibular alignment, improves jaw function, and relieves pain.
Recovery of 4-6 weeks with swelling, soft diet, and restricted motion; hospital stay required.
