What is facial trauma?
The term facial trauma indicates any type of facial injury, including injuries to the jaw. Facial trauma can be divided into several categories: soft tissue trauma includes bruises, abrasions and excoriations, injuries caused by sharp instruments and contusions with tearing and wounds with loss of substance; while facial skeletal trauma includes fractures of the jaw, maxilla, cheekbone and orbit.
Prognosis of facial trauma
Generally, patients with facial trauma recover completely after treatment. Depending on the severity of the trauma, the pre-trauma appearance may not be completely restored. In more severe cases, additional surgery may be necessary after the first 6-12 months. Possible complications of facial trauma are:
- Feeling of weakness or numbness
- Irregularities in the face
- Infections
- Bleeding
- Nervous system or brain damage
- Double vision or loss of vision
The term facial trauma indicates any type of facial injury, including injuries to the jaw.
Symptoms of facial trauma
The most common symptoms of facial trauma:
- Missing teeth
- Double vision
- Altered sensation of the face
- Irregularity or deformity or the facial bones
- Difficulty breathing through the nose due to bleeding and/or swelling
- Vision problems caused by swelling in the area around the eyes
Diagnosis of facial trauma
Diagnosis is made by objective testing. During the visit, the specialist may note:
- Bleeding in the eye and nose area.
- Nasal obstruction
- Tears in the skin
- Bruising around the eyes
- Increased distance between the eyes due to bony lesions between the eye sockets
In addition, the doctor should evaluate symptoms that may indicate bone fractures:
- Irregularities in the face and abnormal sensations in the cheek.
- The jaw moves even though the head is still.
The specialist may then request a CT scan of the head to assess further damage.
What are the causes?
The most common causes of facial trauma are:
- Traffic accidents
- Penetrating wounds
- Violence
Can it be prevented?
To prevent facial trauma, avoid violent confrontations and wear seat belts when riding in the car. Treatments for facial trauma Patients with severe facial trauma should undergo immediate surgery (except for neck fractures or life-threatening injuries) to control blood loss, clear the airway, heal bone fractures with titanium plates and screws, and leave as little scarring as possible.
Which specialist to contact?
The specialist to contact in case of facial trauma is the plastic or maxillofacial surgeon.