Neonatal mandibular symphysis fracture following birth trauma – A case report and review of the literature

Birth trauma injuries remain a significant cause of neonatal morbidity requiring urgent multidisciplinary acute care. We report a displaced mandibular symphyseal fracture in a neonate following vaginal breech delivery with prolonged labor. The infant presented with chin deviation, oral bleeding, and segmental mobility. Radiographs confirmed a mandibular symphysis fracture. Acute stabilization was achieved by closed reduction and placement of a vacuum-formed thermoplastic splint secured with circummandibular wires and sutures under general anesthesia. This technique minimized soft tissue trauma, avoided rigid fixation, which is unreliable in low-density neonatal bone, and is reproducible in standard operating settings. Recovery was uneventful with restoration of feeding and normal weight gain. At 14-month follow-up, the patient demonstrated normal craniofacial development, age-appropriate milestones, and timely incisor eruption. A literature review identified only 12 reported neonatal mandibular fractures with varied management approaches. This case highlights a conservative, reproducible stabilization strategy for birth-related mandibular trauma in neonates.