Assessment of Fracture Distribution and Involvement of Functional Systems Following Craniomaxillofacial Trauma in 48 Cats
🔍 Key Findings
- Mandibular fractures were the most common injury, occurring in 40/48 cats, often affecting multiple mandibular regions simultaneously.
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) injuries were frequent, present in 27/48 cats, with 23 fractures and 4 luxations, most commonly involving the condylar process.
- Maxillofacial fractures involving nasal and palatal structures occurred in 36/48 cats, frequently producing airway obstruction due to fragment displacement or swelling.
- Orbital fractures occurred in 30/48 cats, predominantly affecting the dorsomedial orbital wall and often associated with nasal airway obstruction.
- Pterygoid bone fractures (25/48) were clinically important, frequently causing medial displacement and obstruction of the nasopharyngeal airway.
- Combined involvement of multiple functional systems was common, with 36/48 cats showing concurrent injuries affecting oral cavity and nasal airway function.
- Neurocranial fractures were uncommon (6/48) but occurred only in cases with severe, multifocal CMF trauma.
- CT imaging was essential for diagnosis, as many orbital and skull fractures were difficult or impossible to detect clinically.
Simini Surgery Review Podcast
🔍 Key Findings
- Mandibular fractures were the most common injury, occurring in 40/48 cats, often affecting multiple mandibular regions simultaneously.
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) injuries were frequent, present in 27/48 cats, with 23 fractures and 4 luxations, most commonly involving the condylar process.
- Maxillofacial fractures involving nasal and palatal structures occurred in 36/48 cats, frequently producing airway obstruction due to fragment displacement or swelling.
- Orbital fractures occurred in 30/48 cats, predominantly affecting the dorsomedial orbital wall and often associated with nasal airway obstruction.
- Pterygoid bone fractures (25/48) were clinically important, frequently causing medial displacement and obstruction of the nasopharyngeal airway.
- Combined involvement of multiple functional systems was common, with 36/48 cats showing concurrent injuries affecting oral cavity and nasal airway function.
- Neurocranial fractures were uncommon (6/48) but occurred only in cases with severe, multifocal CMF trauma.
- CT imaging was essential for diagnosis, as many orbital and skull fractures were difficult or impossible to detect clinically.
Simini Surgery Review Podcast
Know What Matters in the Literature - and Why
We distill peer-reviewed surgical studies into clinically relevant summaries and
exam-style questions, so you can make informed decisions with confidence.
Free Access. No Spam. Just Smarter Surgical Learning
Multiple Choice Questions on this study
Access the full library of surgical summaries and exam-style questions.

