Nasomaxillary fracture: Retrospective review of 11 consecutive patients and literature review

Purpose: Nasomaxillary fractures can be mistaken for fractures confined to the nasal bones, resulting in inappropriate treatments that jeopardize patient outcomes. Our purpose here was to provide information on nasomaxillary fractures via a retrospective study and literature review.

Material and methods: We retrospectively collected clinical, computed tomography (CT), therapeutic, and outcome data in consecutive patients managed for unilateral impacted nasomaxillary fractures at our centre over a 5-year period (2013-2017). Long-term outcomes were further assessed by administering scoring tools for subjectively assessed cosmesis, nasal obstruction, and pain during a telephone interview.

Results: The 11 included patients had a mean age of 33.4 years. The clinical manifestations included nasal asymmetry in all 11 patients and infra-orbital rim step-off deformity in 9 patients. Consistent CT findings were involvement of the nasal bone, canine pillar, and anterior maxillary bone; and presence of blood within the maxillary sinus. The treatment in 8 patients consisted in open reduction and internal fixation via the intraoral approach, with or without an added infra-orbital approach; 1 patient was managed by endonasal reduction and 2 patients declined reduction. Almost 1 year after surgery, the cosmetic outcome was good (mean score, 22/25) and few patients reported nasal obstruction (mean score, 3.6/20) or pain (mean score, 1.6/10).

Conclusion: Nasomaxillary fracture is a specific entity that must be differentiated from nasal bone fracture. Open reduction and internal fixation via the intraoral approach, with an added infra-orbital approach if needed, provides good outcomes.