Email this article Unilateral isolated fracture of the pterygoid plate: a case report
- Authors: Balzano R.F.1, Testini V.2, Cammarota A.3, Guglielmi G.1,2,4
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Affiliations:
- Radiology Unit, Barletta University Campus UNIFG, “Dimiccoli” Hospital
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Foggia University School of Medicine
- Radiation Oncology Unit, IRCCS CROB, Rionero in Vulture
- Radiology Unit, Hospital “Casa Sollievo Della Sofferenza”, San Giovanni Rotondo
- Issue: Vol 3, No 1 (2022)
- Pages: 71-77
- Section: Case reports
- URL: https://journals.rcsi.science/DD/article/view/90282
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.17816/DD90282
- ID: 90282
Cite item
Abstract
Pterygoid plate fractures are often associated with Le Fort fractures and accompanied by other facial fractures such as frontal sinus and naso-orbital-ethmoid fractures; isolated pterygoid plate fractures are extremely rare.
Le Fort fractures must be surgically treated with fixation of unstable fracture segments to re-establish bone form and function, and the pterygoid process must be surgically stabilized; however, surgical treatment is unnecessary in isolated pterygoid plate fractures.
Here, we report a rare case of isolated unilateral fracture of the pterygoid process in a 71-year-old female patient who had a syncopal episode with secondary head injury and a hematoma at the base of the right orbit.
A computed tomography scan showed unilateral right pterygoid plate fracture with signs of emphysema in the ipsilateral masticatory space. The patient also had a fracture of the medial wall of the right maxillary sinus with hemosine, but no fractures of the skull base or theca. She was treated conservatively.
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##article.viewOnOriginalSite##About the authors
Rosario Francesco F. Balzano
Radiology Unit, Barletta University Campus UNIFG, “Dimiccoli” Hospital
Email: ro.balzano@gmail.com
Italy, Foggia
Valentina Testini
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Foggia University School of Medicine
Email: testinivalentina@gmail.com
Italy, Foggia
Aldo Cammarota
Radiation Oncology Unit, IRCCS CROB, Rionero in Vulture
Email: aldo.cammarota@crob.it
Italy, Potenza
Giuseppe Guglielmi
Radiology Unit, Barletta University Campus UNIFG, “Dimiccoli” Hospital; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Foggia University School of Medicine; Radiology Unit, Hospital “Casa Sollievo Della Sofferenza”, San Giovanni Rotondo
Author for correspondence.
Email: giuseppe.guglielmi@unifg.it
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-4325-8330
Medical Doctor, Full Professor of Radiology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine.
Italy, Foggia; Foggia; FoggiaReferences
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