Pterygoid Plates Le Fort — NDEB AFK MCQ
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Correct answer: E — Pterygoid plates of the sphenoid bone
The pterygoid plates of the sphenoid bone are fractured bilaterally in ALL three Le Fort fracture patterns (I, II, and III). This is because the pterygoid plates connect the maxilla to the cranial base, and separation of the maxilla from the skull base in any Le Fort pattern must involve fracture of this junction. This common feature is an important radiographic sign for confirming Le Fort fractures on CT imaging.
Reference: Hupp – Contemporary Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 7th ed., 2019