# Clinical and diagnostic imaging outcomes of mandibular fracture management in 109 cats

## TL;DR

This study examines the treatment outcomes of mandibular fractures in 109 cats, finding that surgical fixation leads to better healing and fewer complications than traditional methods.

## Contribution

The study provides new clinical evidence comparing ORIF and MMF in feline mandibular fracture treatment outcomes.

## Key findings

- Cats treated with ORIF showed significantly better healing outcomes compared to those treated with MMF.
- Persistent malocclusion was less common in cats treated with ORIF than in those treated with MMF.
- Pre-operative fracture displacement was linked to poor healing in specific mandibular regions.

## Abstract

Mandibular injuries are a common occurrence in cats that are presented for maxillofacial trauma. Timely assessment and treatment of these injuries directly impacts a cat’s return to function.

A retrospective study was performed on a population of 109 cats that were presented for evaluation and treatment of mandibular trauma. Medical records and diagnostic imaging were reviewed to determine mandibular fracture location, morphology, and treatment. Follow-up data were obtained from repeat clinical examination and diagnostic imaging.

The most commonly injured anatomical locations were the mandibular symphysis (55.0%), the condylar process of the mandible (49.5%) and mid ramus (48.6%). More severe pre-operative fracture displacement was associated with a poor healing outcome in the mid ramus and coronoid process regions. The group of cats treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) had a significantly higher percentage of cats showing adequate healing (P = 0.0247) compared to the group of cats treated with maxillomandibular fixation (MMF). Cats treated with ORIF also had lower prevalence of persistent malocclusion (9.1%) when compared to cats treated with MMF (53.9%) (P = 0.0138, respectively). Placement of an esophageal feeding tube did not have a statistically significant impact on weight change in patients post-operatively (P = 0.0973). Patient survival was high at 94.5%.

High patient survival indicates that cats that were diagnosed and treated for mandibular trauma often have a good prognosis. Pre-operative fracture displacement may influence healing in select regions of the mandible. Fractures treated with ORIF had a higher rate of adequate bone healing when compared with fractures treated with MMF.