Sudden rupture of the internal maxillary artery causing pseudoaneurysm (mandibular part) secondary to subcondylar mandible fracture

Abstract

The mandible is one of the most frequently fractured bones of the face. Condylar fractures are the most common mandibular fractures in adults. The potential complications of mandibular fractures are infection, paresthesia, malunion, nonunion, asymmetry, and long-term functional and growth disturbances. In this article, we report an uncommon case of life-threatening pseudoaneurysm of the internal maxillary artery secondary to subcondylar fracture. We believe that the subcondylar fracture on the vertical vector and oblique direction can damage vital tissues such as the internal maxillary artery, and this injury was, to our knowledge, the first reported acute pseudoaneurysm, which occurred just after the injury at the initial part of the maxillary artery.