Synonyms

No known synonym

Name of the disease in English

Mandibular fracture

The disease in brief

A kick from a fellow animal (for example from a mother suckled by a "thief" calf) or a shock to the metal tubes of the feeding stalls are causes of fracture; the frontal fracture which divides the jaw into 2 halves deforms less than the other fractures.

Clinic & diagnosis

In a bovine that is drooling or has difficulty eating, inspection of the mouth shows traces of shock, which the edema, pain and subcutaneous crepitation opposite the bone fracture line suggest are due to a fracture of the mandible.

Typical sign of the disease

No description

Pictures

See below

Diagnostic formulas

No description

Differential diagnosis

- Paralysis of the jaw N284

– Loose or broken tooth DG16.1

-Stomatitis due to foreign body or burn by caustic or urticant- DG16

Confirm a suspicion?

When in doubt, radiography may be the method of choice used on calves which are frequent victims.

Prognosis and treatment

If the fracture is non-displaced in a calf, an attempt can be made to muzzle the fracture, and spontaneous healing may occur. Solutions based on external fixators have been shown to reduce and consolidate very disastrous fractures.

Prevention

No specific prevention.

References

Large animal internal Medicine-5^th edition. SMITH B.BP. Mosby ed p101