Fracture of the Mandible in Cats

Fractures of the mandible (lower jaw) are usually the result of major trauma, especially to the head, but can be caused by disease of the bone itself, dental disease, or sometimes by the veterinarian during extraction of diseased teeth. These fractures can occur at any location along the length of the bone from the midpoint where the two halves of the mandible meet in the front, back to the temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ). The fractures can occur on both sides of the jaw at the same time. Many of these fractures are "open" but occasionally "closed" fractures do occur. Mandibular fractures can also be categorized as "simple" or "comminuted."

Depending on the nature of the fracture and the age of the animal, different methods of repair may be indicated for each situation. Mandibular fractures can have serious complications if not repaired or if the repair fails.