Jaw - broken or dislocated - Overview

Alternative Names

Dislocated jaw; Fractured jaw; Broken jaw; TMJ dislocation

Definition of Jaw - broken or dislocated:

A broken jaw is a break in the jaw bone. A dislocated jaw means the lower part of the jaw has moved out of its normal position at one or both joints where the jaw bone connects to the skull (temporomandibular joints).

Considerations:

A broken or dislocated jaw usually heals completely after treatment. However, the jaw may become dislocated again in the future.

Complications may include:

Airway blockage
Bleeding
Breathing blood or food into the lungs
Difficulty eating (temporary)
Difficulty talking (temporary)
Infection of the jaw or face
Jaw joint (TMJ) pain and other problems
Problems aligning the teeth

Causes:

The most common cause of a broken or dislocated jaw is injury to the face. This may be due to:

Assault
Industrial accident
Motor vehicle accident
Recreational or sports injury

$Mandibular fracture$

Mandibular fracture

Reviewed last on: 6/4/2011
Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Assistant Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Herrmann HJ. Wilderness dentistry and management of facial injuries. In: Auerbach PS, ed. Wilderness Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2007:chap 26.

Kellman RM. Maxillofacial trauma. In: Cummings CW, Flint PW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2010:chap 23.

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