Management of penetrating wounds of the mandible caused by civilian firearms differs from military injuries primarily because of the difference in missile velocity. Most reports are based upon war‐time experience. Since civilian gunshot wounds of the mandible have been recorded in isolated case reports, a review of our experience managing 20 patients is reported. All fractures were initially managed by closed reduction reserving open reduction for those cases that failed to respond to closed reduction. Eighteen had displaced fractures and two were undisplaced. Only two patients required open reduction, both had the displaced type. Airway obstruction occurred in six out of 20 and were associated with injuries to the floor of the mouth or tongue. Five of these patients received tracheotomy while one, in whom a tracheostomy was not performed, died. Only one patient developed infection. Osteomyelitis in this case responded to antibiotics.
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May et al. (1973) studied this question.