Craniofacial and Skull Base Trauma

• Published in: The Journal of trauma, injury, infection, and critical care Vol. 54; no. 5; pp. 1026 - 1034
• Main Authors: Katzen, J. Timothy, Jarrahy, Reza, Eby, Joseph B., Mathiasen, Ronald A., Margulies, Daniel R., Shahinian, Hrayr K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc 01-05-2003; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
• Subjects: Accidents, Traffic; Biological and medical sciences; Cranial Nerve Injuries - complications; Cranial Nerve Injuries - diagnosis; Cranial Nerve Injuries - therapy; Craniocerebral Trauma - complications; Craniocerebral Trauma - diagnosis; Craniocerebral Trauma - therapy; Facial Injuries - complications; Facial Injuries - diagnosis; Facial Injuries - therapy; Fistula - etiology; Humans; Injuries of the nervous system and the skull. Diseases due to physical agents; Injuries of the orbit. Foreign bodies of the eye. Diseases due to physical agents; Medical sciences; Skull Fractures - diagnosis; Skull Fractures - therapy; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Maxillary; Anosmia; Craniofacial trauma; Fistula; Cerebrospinal fluid; Orbit(eye); Facial fractures; Mandible fractures Maxillary fractures; Rhinorrhea Cerebrospinal fluid leaks; Otorrhea; Skull base trauma; Zygomatic fractures; Zygomatic arch; ENT disease; Complication; Diagnosis; Cranial nerve trauma; Human; Nervous system diseases; Mandible; Temporal bone; Orbit(eye) disease; Trauma; Cerebral disorder; Diplopia Otorrhea; Rhinorrhea; Clinical management; Cranial nerve disease; Temporal bone fractures; Central nervous system disease; Skull disease; Orbital fractures; Craniofacial; LeFort fractures; Base of the skull
• ISSN: 0022-5282; 1529-8809
• DOI: 10.1097/01.TA.0000066180.14666.8B

BACKGROUND Traumatic craniofacial and skull base injuries require a multidisciplinary team approach. Trauma physicians must evaluate carefully, triage properly, and maintain a high index of suspicion to improve survival and enhance functional recovery. Frequently, craniofacial and skull base injuries are overlooked while treating more life-threatening injuries. Unnoticed complex craniofacial and skull base fractures, cerebrospinal fluid fistulae, and cranial nerve injuries can result in blindness, diplopia, deafness, facial paralysis, or meningitis. Early recognition of specific craniofacial and skull base injury patterns can lead to identification of associated injuries and allow for more rapid and appropriate management.
CONCLUSION Early detection and treatment of craniofacial and skull base traumatic injuries should lead to decreased morbidity and mortality. This review discusses the most common of these injuries, their possible complications, and treatment.