Innovative Approach in the Management of Displaced Mandibular Fracture in a Four-Year-Old Child: A Case Report

TL;DR

This case report presents a new method for treating a severe mandibular fracture in a young child to avoid the drawbacks of traditional surgery.

Contribution

A modified cap splint, the 'Functional Ease Cap Splint,' is introduced as an innovative alternative to open surgery for displaced mandibular fractures in children.

Findings

Severely displaced mandibular fractures in children can be challenging to treat with non-invasive methods.

The 'Functional Ease Cap Splint' offers a less invasive and effective alternative to open reduction and internal fixation.

The proposed method aims to reduce psychological and physical trauma while ensuring proper healing.

Abstract

Craniofacial trauma has been reported to be a major health issue in children. In the pediatric population, the mandible is a more common site than the maxilla. The condyle and parasymphysis are the major sites of mandibular fracture in children. The encountered mandibular fractures are undisplaced due to the high elasticity of the mandible and the less dense condylar neck that resists the displacement of the bone. Management is more directed toward less invasive procedures without manipulating the facial skeleton such that it results in less psychological and physical trauma to the child. The presented case is about the management of a severely displaced, unfavorable fracture of the mandible. Closed reduction by acrylic splints with circum-mandibular wiring is always an ideal treatment choice for mandibular fractures in children. However, in severely displaced mandibular fractures, open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) remains the best choice. To overcome the downside of the ORIF, a modified cap splint with a horseshoe-shaped wire framework was constructed and named the “Functional Ease Cap Splint.”

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