Mandibular Fracture Site — MFDS Part 1 MCQ

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EasyAnatomy (Head & Neck)Mandibular Fracture SiteMFDS Part 1

In UK urban hospital populations, where interpersonal violence is the predominant mechanism of injury, which mandibular site is most commonly fractured overall?

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Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: B — Angle

Explanation lettering: C = shown as A · E = shown as B · D = shown as C · B = shown as D · A = shown as E

The correct answer is E, the mandibular angle. In a large London teaching-hospital series, angle fractures accounted for 30%, ahead of parasymphyseal and condylar fractures at 27% each. Interpersonal violence caused most injuries and typically produced angle fractures, which is why the stem specifies an urban UK assault-predominant population. The condylar region (A) is the principal distractor because condylar fractures predominate in populations where falls or road-traffic collisions are more frequent. Parasymphyseal fractures (B) are common but were less frequent than angle fractures in the specified setting. Ramus (D) and coronoid process (C) fractures are comparatively uncommon because of their protected anatomical positions. An unqualified statement that the condyle is universally the commonest site is unsafe because fracture distribution varies with mechanism and population.

Reference: Rashid A, Eyeson J, Haider D, van Gijn D, Fan K. Incidence and patterns of mandibular fractures during a 5-year period in a London teaching hospital. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2013;51(8):794-798. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23735734/