[Traumatic intracranial penetration of the mandibular condyle]

The authors report a case of severe multiple trauma in which, as a result of the large number of complex injuries together with necessary therapeutic measures, the intra-cranial penetration of the mandibular condyle was unnoticed during the first months following the accident. They emphasize the discordance between the anatomical lesions and their clinical manifestations. Thus a complete radiological examination is necessary at a secondary stage in order to detect such lesions which, by contrast to that which might be supposed, are not obvious clinically. As far as treatment is concerned, rather than resorting to orthopaedic menoeuvres with imprecise traction and which, in any case, fail to resolve the entire problem. the authors recommend a combined maxillo-facial neurosurgical operation.