Anatomical Examination of Mandibular Condyle Protrusion Into the Middle Cranial Fossa

J Craniofac Surg. 2018 Jun;29(4):1069-1071. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000004425.

Abstract

Trauma to the mandible can occasionally be a life-threatening event. Although extremely rare with only 56 reported patients in the English language, fracture of the floor of the middle cranial fossa with protrusion of the mandibular condyle into the middle cranial fossa was first reported in 1963 by Dingman. The authors review the anatomy of the temporomandibular joint in relation to the middle cranial fossa and demonstrate the possible complications due to condylar intrusion with anatomical dissection.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cranial Fossa, Middle / anatomy & histology*
  • Humans
  • Mandibular Condyle / anatomy & histology*
  • Skull Fractures
  • Temporomandibular Joint / anatomy & histology*