Trauma Q&A
Trauma Q&A
Trauma Q&A
Maxillofacial Trauma
Review Questions
Q1: Discuss the following statement: (relatively minor mandibular
fractures may be associated with a surprising degree of closed head
injury)
A1:
Because of its position and prominence and blows to the mandible are transmitted
directly to the base of the skull through the temporomandibular articulation
By this vector causing indirect fracture. Whenever a direct fracture is seen at the
site of primary impact, one must examine the corresponding indirect fracture site
and rule out the indirect fracture. Common combinations of direct and indirect
fractures are:
2
Rules such as these are designed for guidance only, and it must be emphasized that
the IMF should be released and the fracture tested clinically before the fixation is
finally removed.
2. Fracture of the condylar neck: The fracture line starts somewhere above line A
(the perpendicular line through the sigmoid notch to the tangent of the ramus) in
more than half of its length, it runs above the line A in the lateral view.
3. Fracture of the condylar base: The fracture line runs behind the mandibular
foramen and, in more than half of its length, below line A.
Minimal displacement: displacement of less than 10° or overlap of the bone edges
by less than 2 mm, or both.
Relative indications:
Q13: Explain, the bone ends are more easily displaced in edentulous
mandibular fracture?
A13: Smaller cross-sectional area of bone at the fracture site and the absence of the
stabilizing influence of teeth mean that the bone ends are more easily displaced and
even after reduction the area of contact between them may be insufficient for healing
to occur easily.
A14: The traditional method of treatment of these fractures used closed techniques,
thereby avoiding periosteal stripping and further devitalizing the bone. However,
these techniques do not guarantee adequate immobilization of all the fragments,
although clinically they work well in selected cases. Recently ORIF has been
advocated to provide a load bearing fixation and stability-across the fracture
6
The horizontal buttresses are supraorbital or frontal bar, infraorbital rims, and
zygomatic arches. Joining these buttresses together is lamellar thin bone. This
framework results in fairly predictable patterns of fracture.
Q17: Define CSF rhinorrhea and mention the clinical and laboratory
detection modalities of it?
A17: CSF rhinorrhea: is escape of cerebrospinal fluid from nasal cavity as the result
of dura tear CSF rhinorrhea does not take place, unless there is associated fracture
of cribriform plate of ethmoid.
Traditional methods for detecting CSF leak include testing for glucose or protein,
but these are neither sensitive nor specific.
Testing the discharge for beta-2 transferrin, a brain specific variant of transferrin, is
accepted as the best available diagnostic method
7
Q18: Define Diplopia and mention its possible causes and its detection
methods?
A18:
Diplopia (double vision) is a relatively common early clinical finding after orbital
trauma, often simply as a result of edema affecting the extra- ocular muscles
The tethering of the inferior muscles can be further demonstrated by the forced
duction test, which may be carried out under local or general anesthesia. Fine
toothed dissecting forceps are inserted under the globe of the eye via the inferior
conjunctival fornix and the insertion of the inferior rectus is gently grasped enabling
the globe to be forcibly rotated upwards and its freedom of movement compared
with the opposite side. Any increased resistance is readily appreciated and is
diagnostic of muscle tethering.
d avulsion 7 to 10 days
Q21: enumerate the factors that influence the success of avulsed tooth
repositioning?
A21:
1. The stage of root development; survival of the pulp is possible in teeth with
incomplete root formation
2. The length of time the tooth is allowed to dry; if the tooth is re-implanted within
30 minutes of avulsion, there is a good chance of successful re-implantation. For
extra-alveolar periods longer than 2 hours, complications associated with notable
root resorption increase greatly.