Abstract
IMPORTANCE: Classically, pterygoid plate fractures have been associated with fractures of the mid-face and skull base. When isolated pterygoid plate fractures are identified on imaging that only extends to the level of the skull base, other related facial fracturesmay be missed. We sought to evaluate isolated lateral pterygoid plate fractures on computed tomography (CT) scans in conjunction with mandible fractures and to propose a mechanism of fracture unrelated to the classic dissociating mid-face Le Fort fractures. OBSERVATIONS: In this retrospective case series, 7 patients who sustained facial trauma from 2006 to 2012 were found to have isolated lateral pterygoid plate fractures. All patients had an ipsilateral subcondylar fracture, 2 had symphyseal fracture, 2 had body fracture, and 1 had coronoid fracture. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: On the basis of these cases, isolated lateral pterygoid fractures noted on CT of the head may be suggestive of an unappreciated mandibular fracture. The suspected mechanism is due to force transduction through the medial and lateral pterygoid muscles when acute displacing force is placed on the mandible. In patients with identified isolated pterygoid plate factures, a dedicated CT of the mandible may be indicated to assess for associated mandibular fracture, even in patients whose clinical examinations have had negative results. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 437-439 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 1 2014 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery
Cite this
Lateral pterygoid plate fractures associated with mandible fractures. / Truong, Anh Q.; O'Brien, Daniel C.; Strong, E Bradley; Dublin, Arthur.
In: JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery, Vol. 16, No. 6, 01.11.2014, p. 437-439.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Lateral pterygoid plate fractures associated with mandible fractures
AU - Truong, Anh Q.
AU - O'Brien, Daniel C.
AU - Strong, E Bradley
AU - Dublin, Arthur
PY - 2014/11/1
Y1 - 2014/11/1
N2 - IMPORTANCE: Classically, pterygoid plate fractures have been associated with fractures of the mid-face and skull base. When isolated pterygoid plate fractures are identified on imaging that only extends to the level of the skull base, other related facial fracturesmay be missed. We sought to evaluate isolated lateral pterygoid plate fractures on computed tomography (CT) scans in conjunction with mandible fractures and to propose a mechanism of fracture unrelated to the classic dissociating mid-face Le Fort fractures. OBSERVATIONS: In this retrospective case series, 7 patients who sustained facial trauma from 2006 to 2012 were found to have isolated lateral pterygoid plate fractures. All patients had an ipsilateral subcondylar fracture, 2 had symphyseal fracture, 2 had body fracture, and 1 had coronoid fracture. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: On the basis of these cases, isolated lateral pterygoid fractures noted on CT of the head may be suggestive of an unappreciated mandibular fracture. The suspected mechanism is due to force transduction through the medial and lateral pterygoid muscles when acute displacing force is placed on the mandible. In patients with identified isolated pterygoid plate factures, a dedicated CT of the mandible may be indicated to assess for associated mandibular fracture, even in patients whose clinical examinations have had negative results. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA.
AB - IMPORTANCE: Classically, pterygoid plate fractures have been associated with fractures of the mid-face and skull base. When isolated pterygoid plate fractures are identified on imaging that only extends to the level of the skull base, other related facial fracturesmay be missed. We sought to evaluate isolated lateral pterygoid plate fractures on computed tomography (CT) scans in conjunction with mandible fractures and to propose a mechanism of fracture unrelated to the classic dissociating mid-face Le Fort fractures. OBSERVATIONS: In this retrospective case series, 7 patients who sustained facial trauma from 2006 to 2012 were found to have isolated lateral pterygoid plate fractures. All patients had an ipsilateral subcondylar fracture, 2 had symphyseal fracture, 2 had body fracture, and 1 had coronoid fracture. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: On the basis of these cases, isolated lateral pterygoid fractures noted on CT of the head may be suggestive of an unappreciated mandibular fracture. The suspected mechanism is due to force transduction through the medial and lateral pterygoid muscles when acute displacing force is placed on the mandible. In patients with identified isolated pterygoid plate factures, a dedicated CT of the mandible may be indicated to assess for associated mandibular fracture, even in patients whose clinical examinations have had negative results. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84911499991&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84911499991&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1001/jamafacial.2014.645
DO - 10.1001/jamafacial.2014.645
M3 - Article
C2 - 25211530
AN - SCOPUS:84911499991
VL - 16
SP - 437
EP - 439
JO - JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery
JF - JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery
SN - 2168-6076
IS - 6
ER -