A 1.5-year-old intact female Beagle was presented to Cornell’s Emergency Service for hit-by-car trauma. Evaluation by the primary care veterinarian suggested a mandibular fracture. A dose of meloxicam was administered subcutaneously prior to referral to Cornell.

On presentation to the Emergency Service, the patient was dull but stable. Vital parameters were within normal limits. Physical examination revealed a right-sided mandibular fracture, asymmetry of the mandible, malocclusion, sublingual bruising, pink but tacky mucous membranes, and a decreased menace response OS. The rest of the physical examination was largely unremarkable. Point-of-care bloodwork revealed mild hypoproteinemia. The patient was deemed quiet and dull on initial presentation. Hypertonic saline was administered for treatment of presumptive traumatic brain injury. No change in mentation was noted. Methadone was administered followed by a continuous-rate infusion of fentanyl. The patient was transferred to the Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service. A computed tomographic scan of the skull was performed which confirmed multiple acute traumatic head fractures, and revealed an intra-axial hematoma in the right temporal lobe.

The patient was kept in the intensive care unit for 3 days on seizure watch and was administered levetiracetam 30 mg/kg PO q8h and fentanyl 2 mcg/kg/h; no seizures were observed. After 3 days, the patient underwent general anesthesia for surgical correction of the displaced mandibular fracture via interdental wiring and intraoral splint placement. This case report will discuss the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of mandibular fractures, and will describe the surgical procedure performed.