P0787 - Challenging Diagnosis of Mandibular Fractures in the Pediatric Emergency Department: A Clinical Case Report

Introduction: Due to many factors, including anatomy and activity level, children and adolescents are predisposed to an increased risk of craniofacial trauma. Specialties in pediatric dentistry and maxillofacial surgery prioritize the evaluation and diagnosis of facial fractures, dental trauma, joint displacements, and growth disturbances. The purpose of this paper is to describe a case of a 15-year-old male with orofacial trauma that was mismanaged in the emergency room and a thought process to improve diagnosis and management.

Case: A fifteen-year-old male presented to the pediatric emergency department with a chief complaint of facial pain following a sports related injury. The patient was discharged to home with no dental consultation and was later discovered to have suffered bilateral mandibular fractures as a result of the trauma.

Discussion: Children and adolescents who are not properly triaged in the emergency room and/or referred to a pediatric dental specialist can sustain undesirable outcomes.

Conclusion: An algorithm may assist emergency room providers with requesting consultation and referral to a dental specialist.