Surgical Intervention and Rehabilitation of Pediatric Mandibular Fracture Following Dashboard Injury: A Case Report of a 12-Year-old Child

Abstract

Road traffic accidents (RTA) are responsible for major non-fatal injuries and also fatal injuries annually. Among such injuries, dashboard-related deceleration injuries may cause a wide spectrum of injuries, including complex facial injuries, blunt thoracoabdominal injuries, pelvic fractures, and lower extremity trauma. Paediatric maxillofacial fractures make up 1% - 15% of all facial fractures, which happen because of their distinct anatomical and developmental reasons. These include greater bone flexibility, the ratio between the cranial-to-facial volume, the paranasal sinuses' limited pneumatization, and protective features like the buccal fat pad and developing tooth buds. This report underscores paediatric mandibular fracture rehabilitation as a result of a dashboard injury. This article describes the surgical reconstruction of a 12-year-old child who was diagnosed with bilateral parasymphysial mandibular fractures caused by an unrestrained front-seat RTA. Multiple abrasions and contusions affect both the central and lateral face regions. A skull X-ray and multidetector CT scans were used to confirm the diagnosis. Under general anaesthesia, closed reduction with intermaxillary fixation (IMF) was conducted. IMF is a safe a cost-effective technique for pediatric maxillofacial fractures, as it avoids the complications of open reduction by titanium miniplates and screws, which delay bone growth on the affected side causing deformity. This technique is mainly useful in settings with few available resources or where advanced fixation methods are not available. Postoperative panorama for follow-up purposes was carried out, revealing proper reduction, normal healing with no complications. The success in treating the 12-year-old patient in this case shows the importance of early diagnosis, adequate surgical technique, and postoperative care in achieving maximum recovery.