Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Mandibular fracture treatment and outcomes in 109 cats
By Evenhuis, Janny V et al.·Published in Frontiers in veterinary science·2025·School of Veterinary Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Clinical and diagnostic imaging outcomes of mandibular fracture management in 109 cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 109 cats with jaw fractures due to trauma were treated to help them heal and return to normal function. The most common injury sites were the front of the jaw and the back near the joint. Cats that underwent a surgical procedure called open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) had better healing outcomes and fewer issues with their bite compared to those treated with a different method called maxillomandibular fixation (MMF). Overall, most of the cats did well, with a high survival rate of 94.5%.
People also search for: cat jaw fracture treatment · mandibular fracture surgery in cats · cat mouth injury recovery
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: 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. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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 (= 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%) (= 0.0138, respectively). Placement of an esophageal feeding tube did not have a statistically significant impact on weight change in patients post-operatively (= 0.0973). Patient survival was high at 94.5%. DISCUSSION: 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.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40771948/