Inservice is over but let’s keep the review of Le Forte Fractures going strong!
Interesting historical fact: Named after French Surgeon Rene Le Forte. He described fracture classifications are based on experiments conducted in 1900 by dropping bricks on cadavers and observing the pattern of fractures.
I included the words for description of the fractures but pictures are truly best.
· Le Fort I: the gist: palate. across both maxillae above the dentition.
o More wordy: The fracture extends through the piriform aperture superior to the maxillary alveolar ridge, then propagating through the anterior, medial, and posterolateral maxillary sinus walls.
· Le Fort II: the gist: nose + palate. starts in the maxilla laterally but extends more superiorly into the orbital floor.
o More wordy: The fracture involves the posterolateral maxillary sinus wall and anterior maxillary wall, extending through the inferior orbital rim into the orbital floor, medial orbital wall, and the region of the nasofrontal suture.
· Le Fort III: The gist: craniofacial separation. completely separates the facial bones from the skull. Transverses zygomatic arches laterally. Buzz word: CSF rhinorrhea.
o More wordy: The fractures extend through the nasal bridge, medial orbital wall, posterior orbital floor, and lateral orbital wall near the frontozygomatic suture. The zygomatic arch is always fractured as well.
In general: All of these patients are going to have severe swelling, possible airway obstruction. All will need OMFS consult, IV abx, surgical management and admission.
Sources:
LIFL: https://litfl.com/le-fort-facial-fractures-eponymictionary/
ENT trauma handbook published 2017 written by the American Academy of Otolyngology- Head and Neck surgery
Photo: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/434875-overview
