FACIAL TRAUMA
The goal of facial trauma surgery is to restore a patient’s appearance and function as close as possible to their pre-injury state. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons are specialists in the management of patients with facial trauma. The long term consequences of poor management can include facial deformity, visual disturbances, obstructed breathing and difficulty eating. It is important that facial injuries are assessed in a timely manner to ensure appropriate management.
Injuries to the face can include:
Fractured Forehead (or frontal sinus fracture)
Fractured Eye socket (or orbital fracture)
Fractured Nose (or nasal bone fracture)
Fractured Cheek bone (or zygomatic fracture)
Fractured Upper jaw (or maxillary fracture)
Fractured Lower jaw (or mandible fracture including condylar fractures)
Fractured Teeth and supporting bone (or dentoalveolar fracture)
Fractures in multiple areas of the face (or Panfacial fractures)
Not all patients with broken facial bones require surgery. Depending on the clinical situation surgery may be unnecessary when a fracture has occurred without any significant movement in bone position. For other injuries it may even be necessary to review a patient when swelling has resolved to determine if surgery is necessary. This may take up to 10 days to occur. Despite not requiring surgery it will still be necessary to protect the area of injury over the healing period to prevent deterioration.
Modern approaches to access the bone are hidden and endoscopic (key hole) techniques are employed where-ever possible. Wiring of the jaws is rarely required with contemporary treatment and instead the fractured bones are held in the reconstructed position with the use of miniplates and screws.
Modern technology is used to achieve the best possible outcomes for patients. This includes the use of 3D printed plates and intra-operative imaging.
Dr Stanton provides treatment for patients with facial trauma in private hospital under general anaesthesia.