Signs and Symptoms

Facial injuries can cause a variety of symptoms, which differ depending on their location and severity. These may include:

• Difficulty breathing, seeing, talking or swallowing
• Facial swelling or misshapen face
• Cut or puncture wound on your face
• Facial pain
• Bruising or discoloration behind your ears, eyes or under your tongue
• Widening of the distance between your eyes, which may indicate injury to your eye sockets
• Facial numbness or tingling
• Skin infections or rashes

Diagnosis

When making a diagnosis, your oral and maxillofacial surgeon will begin by asking about your medical history, including any events that may have caused your facial injury. He/she will then conduct a thorough physical and medical examination, noting any injuries to your facial region and other parts of your body. It is important to note that many people with facial injuries also suffer from additional medical problems.

A computed tomography, known as a CT scan, of the head also may be performed to make a definite diagnosis.

• Computed Tomography (CT) -- This imaging test uses thin X-ray beams that rotate around the patient to produce detailed images of the inside of the body's structures. These images can be stored, viewed on a monitor or printed on film.

Treatment

Our oral and maxillofacial surgeons have extensive experience in a wide range of treatments for facial injuries. Treatment varies, depending on the location and severity of your injury. Also, many people with facial injuries have additional medical problems. Your surgeon will coordinate the care of these medical conditions with the necessary specialists.

Like broken bones in other parts of your body, such as your arm or leg, broken bones in your face first must be lined up and held in place long enough so that they can heal properly. Depending on the severity of the injury and your age, this may be for six or more weeks. Repositioning and holding your broken bones in place may be achieved by a variety of techniques. For extensive facial injuries, incisions to expose the bones and then a combination of wiring and plating techniques may be used. Fractures of the upper and lower jaw may require metal braces that are fastened to your teeth with rubber bands or wires to hold your jaws together. Patients with partial or full teeth loss may need dentures or specially designed splints to align and secure their fracture.

In most cases, surgery for facial injuries requires a hospital stay. Also, your jaw's normal functions and range of movements may be restricted, especially in cases when your jaw is wired shut. In these instances, you will have to follow a special diet for a period of time to encourage healing. After you are discharged from the hospital, your surgeon will give you specific instructions for a special diet and caring for your injury.