Le Fort I fracture, bilateral comminution

A bilateral comminuted LeFort I fracture pattern extends from the piriform aperture and lateral nasal walls through the medial and lateral maxillary buttresses to involve the posterior aspect of the maxilla and the pterygoid plates.

These fractures display the highest degree of maxillary mobility of all Le Fort fracture types. If these fractures occur without defects, the comminuted fragments can be affixed to a plate or plates to achieve fracture fixation and buttressing. If these fractures occur with defects, bone grafts should be considered to help in fracture fixation and restoration of the buttresses.

This illustration shows a Le Fort I fracture with bilateral comminution (without defect).

This illustration shows a Le Fort I fracture with bilateral comminution with a defect.

This 3D CT scan shows a bilateral Le Fort I multisegmented fracture associated with other midface fractures.