Facial Trauma and Facial Fractures

​Facial trauma refers to an injury of the face, which may be due to a sharp object or blunt force. This includes:

• Cuts (lacerations)
• Scrapes (abrasions)
• Damage to deeper structures such as nerves, blood vessels, or organs
• Broken bones (fractures)

Symptoms may include:

• Facial numbness
• Deformed or uneven facial appearance
• Difficulty breathing through the nose due to swelling and bleeding
• Double vision
• Missing or loose teeth
• Swelling or bruising around the eyes that may cause vision problems
• Change in the way the teeth fit together
• Inability to open the jaws completely

​A physical exam will determine the extent of your injuries and guide your doctor in obtaining the relevant investigations. This may include:

• X-ray
• CT scan
• Specialised eye examination

​Treatment

Depending on the nature and severity of your injury, you may require:

• Cleaning of the wound under local or general anaesthesia
• Removal of embedded foreign material
• Repair of cut structures
• Fixation of fractures – this will be necessary if your injury causes major deformity or prevents your face from functioning normally. This generally involves screwing metal plates around the fracture to stabilise it, or temporarily wiring your upper and lower jaws together
• Specialized tooth treatment
• Treatment of concurrent injuries of other parts of your body

Painkillers and antibiotics are usually prescribed to control the pain and minimize the risk of infection. Your doctor will teach you how to keep your wounds clean and may give you an antibiotic ointment to apply, or an antiseptic mouth rinse. If you have had a jaw fracture, you may be advised to eat only liquid or soft foods for several weeks until your fracture has healed.

Understanding the Risks

Complications may include:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Numbness or weakness
• Loss of vision or double vision
• Asymmetry of your face
• Poor scarring
• Long-term problems related to the metal plates such as loosening or breakage

You may need to undergo revision surgery to correct these problems. The subject of risks, as well as potential complications of surgery are best discussed on a personal basis between you and your plastic surgeon.