module 3 traumatic 2 Flashcards
appears on a plain radiograph as a sharp lucent line that is often irregular or jagged and occasionally branches
Linear skull fracture
- often stellate (star-shaped) with multiple fracture lines radiating outward from a central point
- tangential views are required to determine the amount of depression
Depressed
- A break in bone at the base of the skull.
- very difficult to demonstrate radiographically
- air-fluid levels in the sphenoid sinus and/or clouding of the mastoid air cells are often the only radiographic finding suggesting a fracture
- important to include erect or cross-table lateral skull radiography
- CT and MRI are often used to better identify fractures and associated soft tissue damage within the skull
Basilar Skull Fractures
develops when the fracture line communicates with the mastoid air cells, resulting in blood accumulating in the cutaneous tissue.
postauricular ecchymosis
bleeding from a fracture site in the anterior portion of the skull base.
periorbital ecchymosis
- maybe difficult to recognize initially because of the edema
- may be indicated by clinical signs, which include black eyes, flattening of the cheek, and/or a restriction of the movement of the mandible
- best demonstrated on underexposed films taken in the basal (submentovertical) projection (“jug handle” view)
Zygomatic Arch Fracture
- generally detected by the patient’s inability to open the mouth and pain when moving the mandible
- these fracture also cause a misalignment of the patient’s teeth
Mandibular Fractures
- serious because of the adjacent nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, orbit and close proximity of the brain
- the maxilla also transmits cranial nerves and major blood vessels
Fractures of the Maxilla
Maxillary fractures three major classifications:
- LeFort 1 (horizontal fracture)
- LeFort 2 (pyramidal fracture)
- LeFort 3 (transverse fracture)
- refers to a separation of the body of the maxilla from the base of the skull above the palate and below the zygomatic process
- results in a freely movable jaw
LeFort I (horizontal fracture)
- involves vertical fractures through the maxilla at the malar and nasal bones, forming a triangular separation of the maxilla.
LeFort II (pyramidal fracture)
most extensive and serious type of maxillary fracture; it extends across the orbits
Lefort III ( transverse fracture)
- results from a direct blow to the front of the orbit, thus transferring the force to the orbital walls and floor
- occurs in the thinnest, weakest portion of the orbit, i.e., the orbital floor just above the maxillary sinuses
- modified parietoacanthial projection (modified Waters method) is the preferred screening study
- CT is the best modality for imaging the orbits
Blow-out
- consists of fractures of the zygomatic arch and the orbital floor or rim combined with separation of the zygomaticofrontal suture
- occurs when the zygomatic or malar bone is fractured at all three suture: frontal, temporal, and maxillary
Tripod
- the most frequently fractured facial bone
- usually transverse and depresses the distal portion of the nasal bones
- may be accompanied by a fracture of the ascending process of the maxillae (anterior nasal spine) or of the nasal septum
Nasal Bone Fracture