Incidence of cervical spine injuries associated with isolated mandibular fractures caused by physical aggression [Incidencia de lesiones cervicales asociadas a fracturas mandibulares aisladas causadas por agresión física] Article uri icon

abstract

  • Supraclavicular trauma associated with fractures of the mandible may lead to cervical spine injuries if they are not diagnosed in the comprehensive evaluation of the multiple trauma patient, and may cause subclinical or unnoticed neurological and muscular complications, and even death. Objective: To determine the presentation and incidence of cervical spine injuries associated with mandibular fractures. Material and methods: A prospective, longitudinal and observational study was performed on a 25 patient cohort diagnosed with isolated mandibular fracture during the period from May 2010 to February 2011, and who were seen in the Dr. Ignacio Morones Prieto hospital in San Luis Potosi (Mexico). Results: The majority of the 25 patients were students with a mean age of 26.4 years of whom 24 were male and 1 was female. The most frequent type of physical aggression was a violent interpersonal violence. The effects of alcohol on their assailants were identified by 44%25 of the patients. None of the patients showed any changes in sensitivity and had normal muscle strength. The type of cervical spine lesion was predominantly anterolisthesis. The prevertebral soft tissue was radiographically within normal limits and the, the dimension of the corresponded to the average figures for normal tissue, maximum cervical instability was 3. mm. The mean diameters of the air column were, C1: 13.28. mm, C3: 11.52. mm, and C6: 22.04. mm. Conclusions: Cervical spine lesions in patients with mandibular fractures caused by physical assault are common and often have subclinical course, so a clinical and radiographic evaluation is very important. © 2011 SECOM.

publication date

  • 2013-01-01