Facial trauma

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Maxillofacial injury; Midface trauma; Facial injury; LeFort injuries

Patients who cannot function normally or who have significant deformity will need surgery.

The goal of treatment is to:

• Control bleeding
• Create a clear airway
• Fix broken bone segments with titanium plates and screws
• Leave the fewest scars possible
• Rule out other injuries
• Treat the fracture

Treatment should be immediate, as long as the person is stable and there are no neck fractures or life-threatening injuries.

Patients generally do very well with proper treatment. You will probably look different than you did before your injury. You may need to have more surgery 6 - 12 months later.

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General complications include, but are not limited to:

• Bleeding
• Uneven face (asymmetry)
• Infection
• Brain and nervous system (neurologic) complications
• Numbness or weakness

Go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number (such as 911) if you have a severe injury to your face.

Review Date: 08/06/2009
Reviewed By: Alan Lipkin, MD, Otolargyngologist, private practice, Denver, CO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).