Potential causes for mandibular fracture:
(1) getting into a fight
(2) accidents (vehicular, falling, other)
Types of substance abuse - any combination of:
(1) alcohol abuse
(2) injection drug abuse
(3) noninjection drug abuse
Complications may occur in up to 30% of these patients who have mandibular fractures.
Types of complications that occurred:
(1) infection
(2) nonunion
Risk factors for complications:
(1) poor oral health prior to the injury
(2) poor compliance with medications
(3) poor compliance with mandibular immobilization
(4) poor nutritional status
(5) failure to return for followup care
(6) refusal of treatment
(7) delay in presentation
Additional risk factors:
(8) reinjury
(9) HIV infection
A substance abuser with one or more risk factors may require a different type of management if fracture healing is to be achieved.
