Ocular and Facial Trauma Flashcards

Which type of chemical burn causes more severe ocular injury — alkali or acid?

Answer: Alkali burns, because they cause liquefactive necrosis and penetrate deeper into ocular structures

Alkalis (e.g., lye, lime) cause liquefactive necrosis, which allows continued deep penetration into the anterior chamber, making them more destructive than acids.

A patient with facial trauma has clear fluid leaking from the ear. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Answer: CSF otorrhea from a temporal bone or basilar skull fracture

CSF otorrhea after trauma indicates a fracture through the temporal bone with disruption of the dura, creating a communication with the subarachnoid space.

Battle's sign (mastoid ecchymosis) appearing hours after head trauma suggests what type of injury?

Answer: Basilar skull fracture involving the posterior cranial fossa

Battle's sign reflects tracking of blood from a basilar skull fracture along fascial planes to the mastoid region, typically appearing 12–24 hours after injury.

When evaluating a patient for mandibular fracture after facial trauma, which clinical finding is most specific?

Answer: Malocclusion (abnormal bite alignment)

Malocclusion indicates disruption of the mandibular condylar articulation or fracture displacement that has altered the occlusal relationship.

Raccoon eyes (periorbital ecchymosis) appearing after head trauma are a sign of what?

Answer: Anterior cranial fossa basilar skull fracture

Raccoon eyes result from blood tracking along fascial planes from a fracture of the anterior cranial fossa floor (cribriform plate region) to the periorbital tissue.

A patient sustains a high-pressure injection injury to the hand. Initial exam shows only a small puncture wound. What is the correct management?

Answer: Emergency surgical consultation for operative decompression and debridement

High-pressure injection injuries appear deceptively minor externally but cause extensive deep tissue destruction, requiring urgent surgical decompression to prevent limb loss.