A Le Fort II Fracture, or pyramidal fracture, is a triangular fracture of the midfacial bones that causes part of the skull to become detached at the upper jaw bone, across the cheekbone and eye socket on each side of the face, coming to a point above the nasal bones. The most common cause of a LeFort II fracture is a motor vehicle accident, but the injury may be caused by any other significant blow to the face, such as a slip and fall accident where the victim lands on his or her face, or physical assault. Due to the use of seatbelts and airbags in the last several decades, the overall incidence of LeFort fractures has decreased somewhat.
Maxillofacial Fracture Types
A Le Fort II fracture is one of three types of mid-facial or maxillofacial fractures along with a Le Fort I fracture and Le Fort III fracture. Le Fort fractures account for between 10% and 20% of all facial fractures. Of the three types of Le Fort fractures, Le Fort II fractures are the most common. The three fracture types get their name from the French surgeon Dr. Rene Le Fort who first described the injuries in the early 20th century.
Complications of Le Fort II Fractures
About half of all facial fractures are associated with some level of cerebral edema (swelling of the brain), a symptom of traumatic brain injury. Initial treatment of any Le Fort facial fracture will seek to rule out brain swelling, jaw dislocation, and intraoral hemorrhaging. If a safe airway cannot be established, an emergency tracheostomy procedure may be necessary. Le Fort II fractures may also be associated with cheekbone fractures (zygomatic fractures), jawbone fractures (mandibular fractures), eye socket fractures (orbital fractures), and nasal fractures.
Compensation for Le Fort II Fractures
If you have suffered a facial fracture in an accident, you may have legal rights to compensation for your injuries. The California bone fracture attorneys at Estey & Bomberger have handled dozens of facial fracture injury cases, and successfully recovered millions for victims seriously injured in California (see our case results). If you or a member of your child have been injured in an accident that was caused by somebody else’s negligent, careless or intentional actions, contact an attorney at Estey & Bomberger for a free, no-obligation case review. In your consultation, an attorney will review your situation, and explain your legal rights and options to obtain compensation. Damages awarded in a California personal injury claim can include money for medical expenses, cosmetic and dental surgeries, lost earnings due to not being able to work, and damages for emotional pain and suffering.
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