Traumatic carotid-cavernous fistulae are rare yet potentially lethal vascular anomalies in the skull base seen after craniomaxillofacial trauma. This aberrant vascular communication has been extensively evaluated and classified, with a number of treatment modalities available to clinicians. The ultimate and definitive treatment of carotid-cavernous fistulae falls beyond the scope of craniomaxillofacial surgery. Nevertheless, clinicians treating patients with craniofacial injuries should have a complete understanding of this pathological entity, because urgent intervention may improve patient outcome.
The management of fractures of the mandibular condyle continues to be controversial. This is in part attributable to a misinterpretation of the literature from decades prior, a lack of uniformity of classification of the various anatomical components of the mandibular condyle, and a perceived potential to cause harm through the open approach based in part on the surgeon's lack of a critical examination of the literature. This review explores the key historical articles that deal with the management of mandibular condyle fractures, and those modern-day contributions that represent the state of the art. The authors' intention was to provide the reader with an objective summary of the management of this form of injury, to place its management into a modern-day perspective, and perhaps to minimize the perception of controversy.
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