不顕性に上気道狭窄をきたした認知症高齢者の両側下顎骨骨折の1例

• Published in: 口腔顎顔面外傷 : 日本口腔顎顔面外傷学会誌 Vol. 17; no. 1; pp. 27 - 31
• Main Authors: 小池, 一幸, 安藤, 壽晃, 丹沢, 秀樹, 中嶋, 大, 喜田, 晶洋, 肥後, 盛洋, 坂本, 洋右, 鵜澤, 一弘, 椎葉, 正史, 笠松, 厚志, 小出, 奈央
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: 日本口腔顎顔面外傷学会 2018; Japanese Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Traumatology
• Subjects: Elderly patients; Mandibular fracture; Upper airway stenosis; 上気道閉塞; 下顎骨骨折; 高齢者
• ISSN: 1347-9903; 2434-3366
• DOI: 10.24787/jsomft.17.1_27

We report a case of mandibular fracture associated with upper airway stenosis due to glossoptosis. The patient was a 91-year-old female who had injured her lower jaw in a fall at a nursing care home. Panorama radiography showed a fracture line on both sides of the mandibular body. Computed tomography （CT） demonstrated glossoptosis and upper airway stenosis. The patient underwent open reduction via an intra-oral approach using mini plates and a reconstruction plate under general anesthesia. Her airway stenosis disappeared and the results of postoperative CT were appropriate. Although glossoptosis can cause upper respiratory tract obstruction, patients with decreased cognitive function may not be aware of this change. Mandibular fracture in patients with senile dementia therefore requires careful follow-up.