Case of Fracture of the Inferior Maxillary Bone
W. A. Gillespie
1836
Boston Medical and Surgical Journal
I copy from my note-book the following case. March 12ih, 1832, I was called to H. C., a strong active man, aged about 30 years. I arrived about midnight at ihe house to which he had been carried after receiving ihe injury. I found him in apparent stupor, from which it was difficult to rouse him, owing, probably, in pan, to an excess of alcoholic stimulation to which he was accustomed. 1 learned from his attendants thai he had attempted, on his way home from the county seat, on a public day, to
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... ide a race, and in passing a large tree, as he himself afterwards informed me, the horse attempted lo go on one side whilst he attempted lo guide him to tlip other ; his head, jaw and shoulder struck the tree, which precipitated him to the earth ; his lower jaw-bone was fractured, ami ihe face and cheek very much contused. He was bled by a demist who happened lo be on the spot, who, like many others, felt convinced that bloodletting was the only and proper remedy for a fall. When I first saw him, several hours alier ibis, his countenance wore a horrid aspect ; his face was deadly pale, although bruised and swollen, and his pulse scarcely perceptible. On examination 1 found his lower jaw-bone completely separated, about the situation of the right dens cuspidatus ; the fragments had over-lapped each other nearly one inch, and the looih which had occupied the place of the fracture was slightly adhering to one of the fractured ends of the bone. 1 readily and easily adjusted the bone to its proper place, and having passed a small silver wire between some of the teeth on each side of the fracture, I lied or united it firmly over ihe fracture. The only remaining indication was to use further means lo prevent motion of the parts, and to allow his taking food at the same lime. I cul a piece of thick sole leather, and so adjusted il between the teeth of boil) sides of ihe jaw as to leave a small opening for drinks or food of a liquid kind. A bandage was now passed around ihe crown of the head and jaw, and another around ihe chin and sinciput, so that ihe jaw was firmly bound in ils place, admitting of no considerable motion. A spare, cooling regimen, with salis and magnesia as a purgative, were enjoined, with quiet, &c. For several days his pulse was neatly imperceptible, but gradually recovered its natural fulness and tone. Quere.-Was this owing to improper bloodletting, or to a concussion of ihe encephalon ? Nothing remarkable occurred ; but progressive amendment soon made it manifest that he was again sound and whole. The tooth which was loosened in the fracture grew fast in its original place, and there was no perceptible deformity left. These remarks may be thought by some as common-place and of rto interest ;they are facts, and may possibly be of use to junior members ol the profession, as I once heard of a similar case, not far from me, which was managed wilh extreme difficulty, in keeping the ends of the bone in co-apiaiion.
doi:10.1056/nejm183602030132604
fatcat:aq3mjmsnkjbuheanctcpvowmx4