Items 629–632
Clinical signs and symptoms of mandibular fractures include facial asymmetry and swelling, trismus and limitation of mandibular movement, malocclusion, lengthening of the face, paresthesias of the lower lip and chin due to injury to the inferior alveolar nerve, and ecchymosis of the floor of the mouth.
Consistent clinical signs and symptoms of malar or zygomatic complex fractures (tripod fractures) include ecchymosis and edema and numbness of the anterior cheek due to injury to the infraorbital nerve. Depending on the degree of displacement, other possible signs and symptoms include flattening of the cheek, infraorbital rim step defect, and decreased extraocular muscle function. Unilateral malar fractures do not produce malocclusion or facial lengthening. Trismus or limitation of mandibular movement may be caused by pressure on the coronoid process of the mandible by the zygoma as well as by swelling in the temporal region.
References
- 629–632/1.
- 629–632/2.