Mandibular Trauma in Close Combat: Possible Rifle-Butt Injuries at the Battle of Kumyangjang-Ni (1951)

AI Summary

Close combat may produce blunt mandibular trauma via rifle butts in addition to ballistic facial injuries.
Battle of Kumyangjang-ni (1951) accounts describe severe mandibular injuries, earning the term "rifle-butt battle", despite lack of formal medical documentation.
Biomechanical considerations and the mandible's prominence render body, angle, and condylar fractures plausible from rifle butt impact.

J Craniofac Surg. 2026 May 12. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000012902. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Craniofacial trauma in warfare is most commonly associated with ballistic injuries; however, close combat may also produce blunt facial trauma through the use of rifle butts or other striking weapons.

OBSERVATION: During the Battle of Kumyangjang-ni in 1951, soldiers of the Turkish Brigade engaged troops of the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army in intense close combat. Historical accounts report that many fallen enemy soldiers exhibited severe injuries to the mandible, giving rise to the nickname “rifle-butt battle.”

DISCUSSION: Although these observations were not documented in formal medical reports, biomechanical considerations suggest that a rifle butt could deliver sufficient blunt force to produce mandibular fractures, particularly in the body, angle, or condylar regions. The prominent anatomic position of the mandible makes it especially susceptible to such impacts.

CONCLUSION: Historical accounts of close combat, such as those reported in the Battle of Kumyangjang-ni, illustrate mechanisms of blunt mandibular trauma that remain relevant to modern craniofacial surgeons managing facial injuries caused by interpersonal violence and blunt assault.

PMID:42117606 | DOI:10.1097/SCS.0000000000012902

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