Analysis and Management of Tripod Fractures: Our Experience

The present prospective study seeks to evaluate the incidence of tripod fracture, etiology and treatment options. All patients with faciomaxillary fractures following road traffic accidents admitted in the Deptt. Of otorhinolayngology, silchar medical college & hospital, Assam during the period of one year from Aug 2011 to Aug 2012, were scrutinized for tripod fracture, both clinically and radiologically & were managed according to the severity of fracture. Patients presenting with simple zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures were managed conservatively. While comminuted/malaligned fractures had monofragments fixed using open & closed reduction methods. Out of which most had early intubation, before edema occurred, to make airway control and provide anaesthesia.in few patients in whom intubation by oral route was impossible, tracheostomy was performed to secure airway.The adequacy of fracture reduction & its stability was confirmed by subsequent CT scan measurements, statistical analysis, and clinical follow-up during the postoperative period, in which patients showed no significant associated complications, facial asymmetry, enophthalmos, or diplopia. Road traffic accidents came out to be most common cause of facio-maxillary fracture, incidence of zygomaticomaxillary fractures is second to nasal bone fracture, which in itself most common facial fracture.