[Neurologic complications in mid-face fractures]

The aim of this study was to discuss the various neurological complications after middle face fractures. The study is based on 186 patients with injuries of the middle face region, admitted to the ENT Department for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Only patients with apparently minor head injury (SHT I. degree) were included in this study. The neurological complications are divided into extracranial and intracranial neurological impairments. It was evident that extracranial neurological complications are frequent and that they decisively influence the surgical treatment (decompression of the N. infraorbitalis or N. opticus). The intracranial neurological complications, however, are rare, but most important for the prognosis quoad vitam, because a small number of patients with middle face fractures can develop a life-threatening intracranial haematoma that must be rapidly detected and removed.