Mandibular Fracture in a Patient Taking a Direct Oral Anticoagulant

A 74-year-old man presented with hemorrhage from the mandible after an injury caused by a 5 x 3 x 3-cm metal square column flying from a 45-ton press machine that struck the right side of his face. He is a known atrial fibrillation patient and is on rivaroxaban, a direct oral anticoagulant. An approximately 8-cm Y-shaped wound with persistent hemorrhage was observed in the right mandible, and the mandible was displaced between the right mandibular canine and first premolar. Although the patient showed no dyspnea, the sublingual region showed a slight dark purple swelling; fiberoptic nasal intubation was performed. Computed tomography at 3.5 hours after the injury revealed a comminuted fracture of the right mandibular body, edema at the floor of the mouth, nasal cavity, upper pharynx to hypopharynx, and the pharyngeal airway around the endotracheal tube. Open reduction and internal fixation were performed. Rivaroxaban was started again 3 days after surgery.

Automated summary

A 74-year-old man presented with hemorrhage from the mandible after an injury caused by a metal square column. He underwent open reduction and internal fixation for a comminuted fracture of the right mandibular body, and restarted rivaroxaban 3 days after surgery.