Broken Face
back to Fractures
The bones of the skull and face collectively make up the most complex area of skeletal system. This kind of a fracture can involve bones of the upper jaw, lower jaw, cheeks, and nose or eye sockets. A closed fracture is one in which the skin is not broken. An open or compound fracture involves laceration of the skin.
Symptoms of Broken Faces
pain
- excessive salivation
- difficulty swallowing.
- swelling
- malocclusion (improper meshing of the upper and lower jaw and teeth)
- skin discoloration
- visible jaw deformity
- nosebleed
- difficulty breathing
- lacerations either inside or outside of the nose
- visible displacement of the nose
- crackling noise when the ends of a broken bone are rubbed together
Causes of Broken Faces
Many situations can cause Broken Faces. Motor vehicle crashes, sporting injuries, falls, and assault account for the majority, although injuries from gunshot wounds and stabbings occur as well.
Always be concerned about other injuries with Broken Faces. In particular, other parts of the body may be injured, for example, if you have facial injuries in a motor vehicle accident.
Treatment of Broken Faces
The usual treatment for Broken Faces involves two steps, reduction or "setting of the bone" and fixation. Reduction involves restoring broken pieces to their proper position. In many cases of Broken Face, reduction can be accomplished several days after the injury, once the swelling
has subsided
The second step is fixation; the process of holding the broken pieces together until they have rejoined and the fracture has healed. Most often, this means immobilizing the broken parts.
Many jaw fractures during childhood require only a soft diet. Sometimes jaw fractures require intermaxillary fixation, (IMF): temporary locking of the upper and lower jaws together by wire or rubber bands. The wire or rubber bands are connected to arch bars (metal bars with hooks that are wired to upper and lower teeth). Metal orthodontic bands with brackets
("braces") are also glued onto the teeth. While the jaws are wired shut, only liquid nourishment is possible. The length of time the IMF is in place varies with the extent and severity of the fracture the usual length of time is 3 to 6 weeks.
Nasal fractures fixation is usually accomplished by external splinting and occasionally by packing the inside of the nose with soft material. A blowout fracture may require careful exploration and restoration of the orbital floor
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