Clinical presentation, computed tomographic findings, treatment, and outcome of traumatic jaw fractures in domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus): 21 cases (2014-2025).

Rabbit mandibular ramus fractures carry favorable survival but require long-term monitoring for frequent dental malocclusion complications.

This retrospective case series describes the clinical presentation, CT findings, treatment, and outcomes of traumatic jaw fractures in 21 domestic rabbits diagnosed between 2014 and 2025. The most common trauma sources were involuntary owner-inflicted injuries (47.6%), followed by sofa-related falls or entrapment and dog bites. Mandibular ramus fractures were the predominant injury, identified in 85.7% of cases, with both unilateral (n=14) and bilateral (n=4) presentations. A recurrent fracture pattern involving the mandibular ramus was noted in 47.6% of cases. Concurrent fractures were frequent and involved the intermandibular suture, mandibular body, zygomatic arch, frontal bone, presphenoid bone, and tympanic bulla, underscoring the complex, multisite nature of these injuries. CT imaging proved essential for comprehensive anatomical characterization of fracture configurations and associated craniofacial lesions. Among 13 rabbits with follow-up data, complications included incisor malocclusion (61.5%), cheek teeth malocclusion (46.2%), chronic dacryocystitis (15.4%), hyperthermia (15.4%), mandibular abscess (7.7%), and persistent vestibular syndrome (7.7%). Despite the high complication rate, survival outcomes were generally favorable, with 11 rabbits alive a median of 581 days post-trauma. These findings highlight that traumatic jaw fractures in rabbits carry a guarded-to-favorable prognosis for survival but require long-term dental monitoring and management due to the high incidence of malocclusion and other complications.

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