Four Types of Facial Fractures

Facial fractures have many causes, and these can include car accidents, personal trauma, falls, or even sports related injuries. After such an incident, patients usually stay in the emergency room for an evaluation. Any life threatening issues are addressed initially and repair of the fracture is attempted after the individual has been stabilized.

In situations like this, most patients receive a CT scan to better assess the trauma to the bones. In addition to this, panorex or dental x-ray’s are sometimes performed if a fracture to the jaw is suspected.

What to know about orbital fractures

Orbital fractures can be localized or cover larger areas of the face. In most cases, these kinds of fractures are the result of trauma such as that caused by a fist or a hard ball.

Common symptoms include some of the following.

 Swelling and bruising around the eye

 Blurring of vision or seeing double

 Numbness around the cheek of the eye that is being affected

 The eyeball has a sunken look

Not all such fractures require surgical attention. If your vision has been compromised or your eyeball is sagging, your physician is more likely to recommend surgery.

Repairs to the injury usually happen about 2 weeks after the initial injury because swelling and inflammation will have been reduced by that time. Any necessary incisions will be in different places but are often placed inside the eyelid order to avoid future scarring.

Once this takes place, or the fracture is shifted back into its original position – or reduced – the broken bones are often supported with metal or some similar supporting material.

Nasoethmoid complex fractures

These kinds of complex fractures are characterized by breakages of the sinus bones in between the eyes, and usually are the result of high velocity impacts.

Common symptoms can include.

 Severe swelling of the orbit

 Bruising near the eyes

 The appearance of widening around the eyes

In situations such as this, patients can leak cerebro-spinal fluid because of the nearness of the ethmoid sinus to the base of the skull. If this happens, a surgical consultation will often be required.

The purpose of surgery for repairs in this situation is to reestablish the proper distance between the eyes. In practice, this can involve wiring or plating of the fractured bones.

Maxillary fractures

These are fractures of the mid face. They usually occur because of high speed traumas such as those experienced during a motor vehicle accident.

Symptoms can include:

 A change in dental occlusion

 Problems with vision

 A clear watery discharge from the nose

The aim of surgery with these kinds of fractures is to restore the normal shape of the facial bones and to make sure that the person’s jaw functions normally.

Once These bones have been moved back into place, screws are often used to keep the bone from moving again.

Mandible fractures

Mandible, or jaw bone fractures, are the second most commonly seen fractures in facial trauma. In many cases the jaw is fractured in more than one place.

Common symptoms can include:

 Pain and tenderness in the jaw

 Inability to bring teeth properly together

 Bruising beneath the tongue

 Numbness in and around the chin

The best time to repair a jaw fracture is usually 7 to 10 days after the initial trauma. In some cases, doctors will prescribe antibiotics if the fracture finds its way inside the mouth.

The goal of surgery in this situation if the restore the teeth to their initial position.This may involve securing the top and bottom teeth together to minimize movement of the jaw bones.