Glenoid fossa fracture and condylar penetration into the middle cranial fossa: Report of a case and review of the literature

Dislocation of the mandibular condyle into the middle cranial fossa causing an epidural haematoma

“…Clinical features may include preauricular pain, laterognathism, and a limited range of motion without specific neurological signs or symptoms. Clinical signs, including trismus, restriction of lateral mandibular motion, unilateral open bite with a contra lateral crossbite or a unilateral loss in height of the lower facial third, can point to a central mandibular condyle dislocation (Melugin et al, 1997;Cillo et al, 2005;Harstall et al, 2005;Magge et al, 2007).…”

“…According to Melugin et al, treatment should be individualized based on the age of injury, the growth potential of the patient, the degree of glenoid fossa destruction, the risk of ankylosis, the risk of additional intracranial injury, the restoration of the posterior facial height and the restoration of masticatory function (Melugin et al, 1997;Clauser et al, 2006).…”

Bony eminence on the middle cranial fossa corresponding to the temporomandibular joint

“…Fracture of the MCF with or without displacement of the condyle into the MCF due to indirect force on the mandible had been widely reported (Whitacre, 1966;Seymour and Irby, 1976;Kallal et al, 1977;Zecha, 1977;Pepper and Zide, 1985;Engevall and Fischer, 1992;Benech et al, 1997;Melugin et al, 1997;Koretsch et al, 2001;Barron et al, 2002;Spanio et al, 2002;van der Linden, 2003;Cillo et al, 2005). Usually, the MCF is protected in mandibular trauma by fracture of the mandibular neck (Seymour and Irby, 1976;Zecha, 1977;Benech et al, 1997;Barron et al, 2002).…”

“…Traumatic protrusion of the mandibular condyle into the MCF thus had been thought to be quite rare (Wish-Baratz et al, 1992;Tos, 1997) and only four cases had been reported from 1920 to 1965 (Whitacre, 1966). However, 33 cases of such fractures and dislocations were reported from 1960 to 1997 (Melugin et al, 1997). The increase in this clinical condition is due to road accidents, especially with cyclists (Seymour and Irby, 1976;Melugin et al, 1997).…”

“…However, 33 cases of such fractures and dislocations were reported from 1960 to 1997 (Melugin et al, 1997). The increase in this clinical condition is due to road accidents, especially with cyclists (Seymour and Irby, 1976;Melugin et al, 1997). Severe fracture and penetration of condyle into the MCF may cause sudden death and is probably not so rare as in the past (Kallal et al, 1977;Pepper and Zide, 1985;Engevall and Fischer, 1992).…”