Respiratory Obstruction Due to Richards Type 4 Fracture

J Craniofac Surg. 2018 Jun;29(4):e358-e359. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000004332.

Abstract

Facial fractures can be potentially fatal in polytraumatized patients due to retropositioning tissues to upper airway obstruction. In the first aids, this situation can be reversed using a tracheostomy procedure to break out the airways. However, fractures leading to airway obstruction are rare and according to Richards Classification can be classified into 5 types. The purpose of this article is to report a clinical patient with a bilateral condylar and mandibular symphysis fractures that resulted in airway obstruction and severe mandibular rear projection.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Airway Obstruction* / etiology
  • Airway Obstruction* / surgery
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mandibular Fractures / complications*
  • Tracheostomy
  • Young Adult