Le Fort Factures
| What is a Le Fort Fracture? |
Le Fort described 3 levels of fracture of the facial bones, Le Fort I, II and III.
|
| Le Fort I |
- Fracture of the maxilla involving the front teeth and extending bilaterally into the nose.
- Characterized by malocclusion of the teeth.
- Can be identified by grasping the top teeth and attempting to move them; with Le Fort I, the teeth and maxilla will move, but the nose and upper face will stay fixed.
|
|
|
| Le Fort II |
- Fracture of the maxilla in a pyramid shape, extending into the nasal bones.
- Characterized by mobility of the nose into the dental arch.
|
|
|
| Le Fort III |
- Fracture that involves total craniofacial separation in a tripod pattern with craniofacial detachment.
- Characterized by mobility of the nose and the dental arch without frontal bone movement.
|
|
|
Brenda Morgan
Clinical Educator, CCTC
May 12, 2001
References:
Sheehy, S. (1992). Textbook of Emergency Nursing 3rd Edition. pp 330-331.
Thelan, L., Urden, L., Lough, M., Stacy, K. (1998). Critical Care Nursing: Diagnosis and Management. pp 1071-1073.
