CAISS Face Injuries 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which structure, when fractured, would be coded in the face chapter rather than the head chapter of AIS?
- Frontal lobe contusion
- Zygomatic arch (Correct answer)
- Temporal lobe laceration
- Dura mater tear
Correct answer: Zygomatic arch
The zygomatic arch is part of the facial skeleton; fractures here are coded in the face chapter, not the head chapter.
Question 2: A patient presents with 4 avulsed teeth after a motor vehicle collision. How should this be coded in AIS?
- Each avulsed tooth receives its own separate AIS code
- All avulsed teeth are captured with a single face chapter code (Correct answer)
- Dental injuries are excluded from AIS coding
- Avulsed teeth are coded under the external chapter
Correct answer: All avulsed teeth are captured with a single face chapter code
Multiple avulsed teeth are captured with a single AIS code from the face chapter rather than coding each tooth individually.
Question 3: When coding facial soft tissue injuries in AIS, which factor most directly determines the severity score?
- Patient age
- Depth and extent of the injury (Correct answer)
- Specific location on the face
- Whether sutures were required
Correct answer: Depth and extent of the injury
The depth and extent of facial soft tissue injury — whether it is an abrasion, laceration, or avulsion — are the primary determinants of AIS severity.
Question 4: In AIS, traumatic enucleation of the eye is classified under which chapter?
- External chapter
- Head chapter
- Face chapter (Correct answer)
- It cannot be coded in AIS
Correct answer: Face chapter
Eye injuries including traumatic enucleation are coded in the face chapter because the eye is housed within the orbit, a facial structure.
Question 5: A patient with a mandibular fracture undergoes open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). What AIS score would this injury most likely receive?
- AIS 1
- AIS 2 (Correct answer)
- AIS 3
- AIS 4
Correct answer: AIS 2
Mandibular fractures requiring ORIF are typically coded AIS 2, indicating a moderate injury with significant treatment needs but no immediate life threat.
Question 6: Which of the following is NOT typically included in the face chapter of the AIS?
- Nasal bone fractures
- Parotid gland lacerations
- Cervical vertebrae fractures (Correct answer)
- Zygomatic fractures
Correct answer: Cervical vertebrae fractures
Cervical vertebrae fractures are coded in the spine chapter; they involve the neck's spinal column rather than facial structures.
Question 7: When coding a Le Fort III fracture (craniofacial disjunction) in AIS, what severity score is typically assigned?
- AIS 1
- AIS 2
- AIS 3 (Correct answer)
- AIS 4
Correct answer: AIS 3
Le Fort III fractures represent complete craniofacial separation and are coded AIS 3, reflecting a serious injury that is life-threatening without intervention.
CAISS Face Injuries 2
Which structure, when fractured, would be coded in the face chapter rather than the head chapter of AIS?