Facial
Trauma
One
of the most frightening
types of injuries is an
injury to the face.
Frightening because of the
dangerous nature of any
trauma to the
head, and frightening
because of the possibility
of long-lasting
complications.
One
thing you should know
is that if you ever
encounter a serious
injury like this is
that there are people
specially trained to
deal
with injuries to the
face, mouth, and jaw.
These people are Oral
and Maxillofacial
Surgeons and the
professionals who work
with them. Their
training and expertise
uniquely qualifies them
to treat facial trauma.
One of the most common and
potentially serious
injuries to the face is a
broken bone. Whether the
fracture occurs in the
lower jaw, upper jaw,
palate, cheekbones, eye
socket, or a combination
of these, this type of
injury can affect sight,
and the ability to
breathe, speak, or swallow
properly. Other injuries
include, lacerations,
abrasions, and broken
teeth.
Treating fractures
of the face is similar to
treating fractures in
other parts of the body.
However, because of the
complex and delicate
nature
of facial bone structure,
special care must be taken
to ensure proper healing
and restored function
of the affected area.
When a fracture occurs,
the fractured bones must
be lined up (reduced) and
held in position long
enough to permit them time
to heal. This could
require up to six or more
weeks depending on a
patient’s age, and the
complexity of the
fracture. In the case of
extensive fractures,
multiple incisions  to
expose the bones and a
combination of wiring or
plating techniques may be
required to treat the
injury. Oral and
Maxillofacial
Surgeons with their
special training and
experience are uniquely
qualified to treat such
fractures.
Not every facial injury is
extensive, but any facial
injury can be more complex
than it seems on the
surface. For instance, if
a patient experiences a
moderate cut to the lip,
one that requires stitches
to repair. The placement
of those stitches must be
precise to produce an
acceptable cosmetic
result. Oral and
Maxillofacial Surgeons
specialize in this type of
repair, so their expertise
can be invaluable in
treating an injury of this
type.
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