Fig. 1.
Le Fort fractures. (A, B) Le Fort I fracture. Drawings in lateral (A) and frontal (B) projections show Le Fort I fracture runs horizontally above maxillary alveolar process. Pterygoid plates are broken, as is true in all types of Le Fort fracture. Walls of maxillary sinuses in this plane are broken, including point at anterolateral margin of nasal fossa. Maxillary teeth would be movable on physical examination relative to remainder of face. (C, D) Le Fort II fracture. Drawings show plane of Le Fort II fracture in lateral (C) and frontal (D) projections. Le Fort II fracture is pyramidal in shape with teeth at base of pyramid and nasofrontal suture at the apex of pyramid. Pterygoid plates are broken, as is true in all types of Le Fort fracture. Posterior and lateral walls of maxillary sinus are broken as fracture skirts inferior in relation to body of zygoma. Fracture then crosses inferior orbital rim, orbital floor, and medial wall of orbit before crossing midline near nasofrontal suture. Maxillary teeth and nose as a unit would be movable relative to zygomata and rest of skull. (E, F) Le Fort III fracture. Drawings show plane of Le Fort III fracture in lateral (E) and frontal (F) projections. Le Fort III fracture separates the bones of face from the rest of skull. Pterygoid plates are broken, as is true in all types of Le Fort fracture. Upper posterior margins of maxillary sinuses fracture, as does zygomatic arch, lateral orbital wall, and lateral orbital rim. There is a fracture near junction of frontal bone and greater wing of sphenoid in posterior aspect of orbit, fracture along medial orbital wall, and fracture across nasofrontal suture. Maxillary teeth, nose, and zygomata as a unit would be movable on physical examination relative to the rest of skull. Modified from the study by Rhea et al.16