External fixation in a low-velocity gunshot wound to the mandible

Low-velocity gunshot wounds to the mandible are complex injuries that can be aesthetically and functionally devastating. Despite advances in plating systems and surgical techniques, repair of such injuries remains a challenging endeavor. Traditionally, external fixation has resulted in longer treatment times and the need for revision surgery. Rigid fixation has many proponents because of shorter postoperative treatment times and fewer complications. We report a case of a low-velocity gunshot injury to the mandible with comminution and a full-thickness soft tissue wound treated definitively with maxillomandibular fixation and an external fixation device.