Facial Fractures of the Upper Craniofacial Skeleton Predict Mortality and Occult Intracranial Injury After Blunt Trauma

Abstract

The association between facial fractures, intracranial injury, and death varies by regional involvement, with increasing insult in those with upper face fractures. Cognizance of the increased risk for intracranial injury in patients with upper face fractures may supplement existing triage tools and should increase suspicion for underlying or impending neuropathology, regardless of clinical picture at presentation.