The Enigma of “Traumatic Pseudolipoma” and “Traumatic Herniation of Buccal Fat Pad”: A Systematic Review and New Classification System of Post-Traumatic Craniofacial Fatty Masses

Abstract

Intraoral traumatic herniation of the buccal fat pad has been reported using various terms such as traumatic pseudolipoma, traumatic prolapse of buccal fat pad, and traumatic avulsion of buccal fat pad. Because there is no uniformity in nomenclature, this condition needs to be distinguished from other entities such as post-traumatic pseudolipoma and lipoma and pseudoherniation of the buccal fat pad. A systematic review and thorough search of the literature was planned in online databases such as PubMed, Medline, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar. The keywords used were traumatic pseudolipoma, traumatic herniation of buccal fat pad, and traumatic prolapse of buccal fat pad. Of 95 articles initially screened, 45 were included in the study. All pertinent data were extracted by the authors independently. Extracted data were cross-examined for any discrepancy. Summary statistics were not used because the research question did not support pooling of data. Only 24 cases were found to have reported the condition correctly. Terms such as traumatic pseudolipoma were used synonymously and erroneously for this condition. Based on the gross inaccuracy in reporting, the authors propose a new comprehensive classification of post-traumatic craniofacial fatty masses.