Facial Soft Tissue Injuries as an Aid to Ordering a Combination Head and Facial Computed Tomography in Trauma Patients

Our data demonstrate that there are certain facial soft tissue injury zones that correlate with facial fractures in trauma patients who obtain head CT. We would like to propose that the acronym LIPS-N (Lip laceration, Intraoral laceration, Periorbital contusion, Subconjunctival hemorrhage, and Nasal laceration) be used in conjunction with a physical examination when assessing if a trauma patient who is getting head CT should also get facial CT.