Penetrating injury of the cheek requiring skull base exploration.

Abstract

We report a case of a very unusual penetrating injury of the middle third of the face. The patient was involved in a road traffic accident, and the indicator control lever became impaled in his right cheek. There was contralateral orbital damage resulting in loss of sight. The cribriform plate was breached and a pneumoencephalocele ensued. We discuss the modern management of such injuries including injury assessment. We emphasize the importance of crash scene information gathering and analysis of injury mechanisms. Facial injury zonal classification and imaging are reviewed in the context of the case. We discuss the reasons that led us to treat this patient via the subcranial approach.

• Authors: N N Patel, S C Wang, L Marentette
• Journal: The Journal of laryngology and otology (J Laryngol Otol) Vol. 116 Issue 7 Pg. 548-50 (Jul 2002) ISSN: 0022-2151 [Print] England
• PMID: 12238679 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Topics

• Accidents, Traffic
• Adult
• Cheek (injuries)
• Foreign Bodies (diagnostic imaging, surgery)
• Head Injuries, Penetrating (diagnostic imaging, surgery)
• Humans
• Skull Base (injuries, surgery)
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed