Malar bone fractures: experimental fractures on the dried skull and clinical sensory disturbances

To improve understanding of malar bone fracture, experimental fractures on dried skulls and clinical sensory dysfunctions were investigated. In the experimental study, the fracture lines are largely confined to the suture lines between the zygoma and neighbouring bones in addition to the maxillo-ethmoidal suture. Antral walls, anterior and posterior, are relatively free from fracture lines in the region of the superior dental plexus. This coincides with the findings of dento-alveolar sensory disturbances which are relatively lower in incidence and earlier in recovery than those following Le Fort type fractures. To study this sensory status gives interesting information about the fracture lines and the anatomical course of the superior dental nerves.