An unusual traumatic fracture of the mandibular symphysis resembling horizontal osteotomy for genioplasty

The authors report a rare case of mandibular fracture caused by a flying object, discuss the mechanism of the fracture, and review the literature. The patient was a 40-year-old male soldier in the Self Defense Force (SDF). During a mock battle of the SDF Agency, a shell splinter penetrated his mentum and caused a fracture of the mandibular symphysis that resembled horizontal osteotomy for genioplasty. A horizontal fracture of the mandibular symphysis is very rare, and on clinical inspection, the authors found the general course of the clinical fracture line coincided with the weakest portion of the mandible. A powerful blast can cause an object to become airborne and injure persons in the vicinity, as did the metallic fragments that caused the mandibular fracture in patient reported here. Thus, when examining victims of such traumas, the possibility that a foreign object might have penetrated the body should be kept in mind. A thorough inspection of injuries resulting from explosions is mandatory.