Pediatric Tripod Fracture

  • Etiology: Trauma to zygomatic complex
  • Imaging CT:
    — 4 parts: Lateral wall maxillary sinus, orbital rim and infraorbital foramen, orbital floor, zygomatical frontal suture and zygomatic arch
    — Orbit involvement often incomplete – Lateral wall and floor of orbit
    — Zygomatic arch involvement – Inspect all processes – frontal, temporal, maxillary
    — Coronoid process impingement
  • Note: On maxillofacial trauma CT an air-fluid level in sinus is a clue that a fracture is present
  • DDX:
  • Complications: If there is extension into a paranasal sinus the fracture is considered dirty
  • Treatment:
  • Clinical:

Radiology Cases of Tripod Fracture