Chapter 38: Head, Face & Neck Injuries - Maxillofacial Trauma

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering maxillofacial anatomy, fracture types (including Le Fort and blowout fractures), clinical signs, and emergency management.

Maxillofacial Injuries

Injuries involving the jaws, face, and mouth (including both bones and soft tissues), excluding the brain or the top and back of the skull.

Maxilla

The upper jawbone that holds the top teeth and forms the floor of the eye sockets, the sides of the nose, and the roof of the mouth (hard palate).

Mandible

The single bone forming the lower jaw in the lower third of the face; it is the only facial bone that moves and the second most frequently fractured facial bone.

Zygoma

The cheekbone (malar eminence) that articulates with the frontal, maxillary, and temporal bones; blunt trauma can cause it to break and flatten the cheek.

Nasal Bones

Two small bones forming the bridge of the nose; they are the most commonly broken bones in the face.

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)

The hinge joint located just anterior to the ear where the mandible connects to the temporal bone of the skull.

Dental Malocclusion

A condition frequently seen in mandible fractures where the patient reports that their teeth do not "feel right" when their mouth is closed.

Midface

The middle third of the facial skeleton, composed of the zygoma, maxilla, nasal bones, and orbital margins.

Le Fort Fractures

A classification system described in 1901 detailing three distinct patterns of midface fractures.

Le Fort I Fracture

A horizontal maxillary fracture that involves the maxilla and terminates at the level of the nasal fossa.

Le Fort II Fracture

A pyramidal midface fracture involving the nasal bones and the medial orbital walls.

Le Fort III Fracture

A complex fracture resulting in craniofacial disjunction, in which the facial bones are completely separated from the cranial bones.

Donkey Face

A physical appearance characterized by elongation or stretching of the face from the eyes down to the chin, commonly seen with Le Fort II and Le Fort III fractures.

Dish Face

A facial deformity resulting from midface trauma where the center of the face appears flattened or pushed inward.

Anterior Open Bite

A malocclusion pattern where the patient cannot close their mouth completely because the posterior teeth contact prematurely, leaving a gap between the anterior teeth.

Ethmoid Cribriform Plate

A thin horizontal bone structure with small perforations that forms the roof of the nasal cavity and the floor beneath the anterior brain, transmitting the olfactory nerves.

CSF Rhinorrhea

The drainage of cerebrospinal fluid from the nose, caused by a tear in the dura mater that creates a direct communication between the brain cavity and the nasal cavity.

Anosmia

The loss of the sense of smell resulting from damage or shearing of the olfactory nerves, often secondary to a cribriform plate fracture.

Basal Skull and Facial Bone Fracture Airway Contraindications

Procedures strictly contraindicated in patients with basal skull or facial bone fractures, including nasal airways, nasogastric tubes, and nasotracheal intubation.

CSF Leak Management

Allowing fluid from the ear or nose to drain freely without attempting to control or stop the leakage using direct pressure.

Orbit

A pyramid-shaped bony socket holding the eye, oriented with a wide forward-facing base and an apex directed toward the back of the head.

Blowout Fracture

An orbital fracture occurring when an object wider than the orbital rim impacts the eye, displacing the globe backward and fracturing the thin orbital floor, potentially trapping orbital fat and extraocular muscles in the maxillary sinus.

Hyaline Cartilage (Nose)

The flexible, non-bony cartilage structure that forms the visible and palpable external portion of the nose.

Depressed Dorsum

A traumatic nasal deformity characterized by an inward depression or flattening of the bridge of the nose.