Facial Fractures/Trauma in Dallas, TX
Patients who have experienced facial fractures or trauma require an individualized treatment plan to increase their odds of a successful recovery. There’s no better place to receive this treatment plan than the International Craniofacial Institute in Dallas, Texas, recognized as world leaders in the industry for more than 44 years.
What Are Facial Fractures?
From auto accidents and interpersonal trauma to work injuries and sports-related injuries, facial fractures can happen at any time. Typically, patients are seen in the emergency room for their initial evaluation. Patients will be stabilized first if there’s a serious issue before a facial fracture can be repaired.
The vast majority of patients will undergo a computed tomography (CT) scan to evaluate the level of skeletal trauma. In some cases, a panorex or dental x-ray is needed if a jaw fracture is suspected.
What Are Orbital Fractures?
Orbital fractures occur when there is an extensive facial injury. This type of fracture is common when someone is directly injured by a fist or a ball.
The most common symptoms include the following:
- Swelling and bruising around the eye area
- Visual impairments such as blurriness or double vision
- Numbness of the cheek below the injured eye
- Sunken appearance to the eyeball
Luckily, not all orbital fractures need surgical intervention. Your surgeon will only recommend surgery if your vision is compromised or if your eyeball appears sunken. It’s important to know that your eyeball may not appear sunken at first due to swelling.
It generally takes 1 to 2 weeks after your injury to repair an orbital fracture because swelling has to be minimal or non-existent. Are you worried about surgical scarring? Incisions can often be placed inside your eyelid to ensure they’re hidden. Our team will reduce your fracture and shift it back into its normal position as best as we possibly can. If required, we can support broken bones with a titanium plate or similar material.
What Is a Nasoethmoid Complex Fracture?
A nasoethmoid complex fracture is a fracture of the sinus bones between the eyes. It can occur when you’ve experienced a facial injury and is usually the result of a high-velocity trauma.
A few common symptoms include the following:
- Severe orbital swelling
- Bruising around your eyes
- Appearance of widening around your eyes
Leakage of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) can occur due to the close proximity of the ethmoid sinuses at the skull base. CSF is the fluid that bathes your brain and spinal cord. When you’ve experienced a nasoethmoid complex fracture, a neurosurgical consultation is needed. Surgical repairs are needed to correct the distance between the eyes and involve plating and wiring of your fractured bones.
What Is a Maxillary Fracture?
A maxillary fracture is caused by high-speed trauma to the middle of a person’s face. These fractures are typically seen when a patient has been involved in an auto accident.
Symptoms include the following:
- Changes in dental occlusion or teeth not aligning properly
- Visual impairments
- Clear, water-like fluid draining from the nose
With surgery, we can try to restore your appearance as close to its natural contour as possible to ensure your jaw/bite functions as it should again. There’s a wide variety of techniques available to access the fractures. These techniques include incisions through the mouth or gums or incisions through your hairline. Once your fractured bones have been moved back into place and stabilized, we may use plates and screws to keep your bones from moving again.
What Are Mandible Fractures?
Mandible fractures are also known as jawbone fractures. These fractures are the second most common fractures in facial trauma. In most cases, the jaw is fractured in two places instead of one.
The most common symptoms include the following:
- Jaw pain
- Jaw tenderness
- Misaligned teeth
- Bruising underneath the tongue
- Numbness of the chin
The best time to repair a jaw fracture is 7 to 10 days after your accident. In some cases, you will be prescribed antibiotics to take prior to the surgery if your fracture extends to the inside of your mouth. Treatment options vary based on the extent of your fracture.
The primary goal of surgery is to place your teeth in their pre-injury position. In some cases, maxillomandibular fixation is needed. Maxillomandibular fixation is a procedure that fixes the upper teeth to the lower teeth for an extended period of time while your fracture heals. During this time, patients need to maintain a liquid diet. Another option is open rigid fixation, a procedure that stabilizes the fracture with titanium plates and screws. These incisions can be made through the mouth or hidden in a jaw or neck crease.
After your surgery, your doctor will likely prescribe an antibiotic or an oral rinse. You’ll need to maintain a soft diet while your fracture heals.
If you have a child or another family member who is suffering from a genetic syndrome or has a cleft lip, cleft palate, or craniofacial complication, the staff at the International Craniofacial Institute can help. Contact us today to talk with the doctors and staff about your options and how we can help.