Facial Fractures or Trauma Surgery - Oral Maxillofacial Surgery

Facial Fractures:

Facial fractures are broken bones of the face, which can include jaw, nose, and eye sockets. Treatment typically involves surgical reconstruction. Common Causes of Facial Fracture include motor vehicle accidents, falls, physical assault, and gunshot wounds.

Types of facial fractures:

The most common facial fractures include:

• Nasal fractures (broken nose).
• Forehead fractures (broken frontal bone).
• Orbital fractures (eye sockets).
• Zygomatic fractures (cheekbones).
• Tripod facial fracture (involving your eye socket, cheekbone, and upper jaw).
• Maxillary or mandibular fracture (broken jaw).
• Mid-face fractures (Le Fort fractures).

What are the symptoms of a facial fracture?

General symptoms may include:

• Bruising.
• Swelling.
• Pain or tenderness.
• Facial numbness.
• Disfigurement.

Facial fracture symptoms depend on which area of your face had an injury, 

A broken nose Patient may have:

• Difficulty breathing through your nose.
• Nosebleeds

A fractured eye socket, the Patient may develop:

• Blurred vision.
• Double vision.
• Bulging eyeballs.
• Sunken eyeballs.
• Difficulty moving your eyes back and forth or up and down.

Fractured jaw symptoms may include:

• Drooling.
• Difficulty chewing or speaking.
• Pain when opening your mouth.
• Loose, broken, or missing teeth.
  

complications of facial fractures?

Facial bone fractures can change your appearance and interfere with normal function. For instance, a person who has a jaw fracture will find it challenging to chew their food. Breathing through the nose may be difficult for a patient with a broken nasal bone.

Facial trauma can also result in infections, internal bleeding, and neurological issues like a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak.

To reduce your risk of complications, visit the hospital immediately following facial trauma.

How are facial fractures diagnosed?

Patients are examined clinically to

• Determine if you have any life-threatening injuries. (If you do, they’ll treat them right away.)
• Check your nose for obstruction.
• Check your eyes to see if they’re functioning properly.
• Check for damage to your brain and spinal cord.
• Ask you to describe your symptoms.
• Ask about how facial injury occurred.
• Check for facial asymmetry or damage.
• Gently press on the bones of your face to determine the extent of damage.

What tests help diagnose facial fractures?

Computed tomography (CT) is the most common imaging test used for diagnosing facial fractures.

How are facial fractures treated?

Your doctor may prescribe pain relievers as well as corticosteroids to reduce swelling. If there is a significant danger of infection, they can also recommend antibiotics.

Facial fracture treatment involves reduction and fixation.

• Reduction: Placing the broken bones in their correct positions.
• Fixation: keeping the bones in their new positions long enough for healing to take place, by surgical plates, screws, and wires. This procedure is done to keep the affected bones still and prevent movement during recovery.

For a complex fracture with multiple broken bones, facial reconstructive surgery will be required.

Closed reduction:

Closed reduction involves resetting fractured bones without surgery. This means the doctor can manually reset your facial bones without making incisions (cuts).

Open reduction:

Open reduction involves surgical procedures. In these cases, the doctor will need to explore the area surgically to reset your facial bones in the correct position.

Facial reconstructive surgery

Severe facial trauma will require reconstructive surgery. There are two main goals of facial reconstructive surgery:

1. Restore proper functions which include vision, chewing, swallowing, or breathing through your nose.
2. Enhance and optimize your appearance.

recovery after a facial fracture?

It’s different for everyone. It depends on the degree of your facial trauma, the type of treatment you had, and how well your body can repair itself.

People who go through facial reconstructive surgery will notice the swelling and bruising fade after about two weeks. But in certain cases, full recovery could take many months.

How can I prevent facial fractures?

There’s no way to completely prevent facial fractures. Some steps can be taken to reduce the extent of injuries.

• Wear a seat belt when driving a car or riding in one. Wear a helmet and other protective gear if you’re operating a motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle.
• When playing sports, use the proper safety gear, such as a helmet, face mask, or mouth guard.

Follow safety guidelines at work and wear protective gear if your job requires you to do it.

Outlook / Prognosis

Long-term effects of a facial fracture?

Some patients don’t have any long-term effects following a facial fracture treatment or fractures that don’t require treatment. However, long-term complications are possible and may include:

• Sinus issues.
• Breathing issues.
• There may be changes in your sense of taste or smell.
• Tingling or numbness.
• Vision issues.
• Headaches.
• Tenderness in your head or face.

Early treatment can reduce the risk of long-term complications. Your doctor can tell you what to expect in your situation.

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