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Pneumomediastinum following zygomatic fracture – an uncommon but potentially life‐threatening complication
Author(s) -
Houghton D.,
Sidebottom A.J.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
oral surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.156
H-Index - 11
eISSN - 1752-248X
pISSN - 1752-2471
DOI - 10.1111/ors.12004
Subject(s) - pneumomediastinum , medicine , facial trauma , complication , subcutaneous emphysema , physical examination , surgery
We report the case of a 35‐year‐old male who presented with left facial swelling and pain on deep inspiration following an isolated zygomatic complex fracture. Clinical examination and computer tomography confirmed cervicofacial emphysema and pneumomediastinum secondary to zygomatic fracture. This was subsequently managed conservatively with analgesia and antibiotics. Cervicofacial emphysema following maxillofacial trauma is not uncommon, but pneumomediastinum must be considered where chest pain develops and diagnosed early to minimise potentially life‐threatening conditions.