Skip to Content

Facial trauma

Definition

Facial trauma is any injury of the face and upper jaw bone (maxilla).

Alternative Names

Maxillofacial injury; Midface trauma; Facial injury; LeFort injuries

Causes

Blunt or penetrating trauma can cause injury to the area of the face that includes the upper jaw (maxilla). Common causes of injury to the face include:

  • Automobile accidents
  • Penetrating injuries
  • Violence

Symptoms

  • Changes in sensation and feeling over the face
  • Deformed or uneven face or facial bones
  • Difficulty breathing through the nose due to swelling and bleeding
  • Double vision
  • Missing teeth
  • Swelling around the eyes that may cause vision problems

Exams and Tests

The doctor will perform a physical exam, which may show:

  • Bleeding from the nose, eyes, or mouth, or nasal blockage
  • Breaks in the skin (lacerations)
  • Bruising around the eyes or widening of the distance between the eyes, which may mean injury to the bones between the eye sockets
The following may suggest bone fractures:
  • Abnormal sensations on the cheek and irregularities that can be felt
  • An upper jaw that moves when the head is still

A CT scan of the head may be done.

Treatment

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.

Outlook (Prognosis)

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.

Possible Complications

General complications include, but are not limited to:

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

When to Contact a Medical Professional

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

Prevention

Wear seat belts and use protective head gear when appropriate. Avoid violent confrontations with other people.

Review Date: 8/6/2009
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.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
adam.com

Disclaimer: The information contained in this website, and its associated websites, is provided as a benefit to the local community, and the Internet community in general; it does not constitute medical advice. We try to provide quality information, but we make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to this website and its associated sites. As medical advice must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each patient and healthcare is constantly changing, nothing provided herein should be used as a substitute for the advice of a competent physician. Furthermore, in providing this service, Adventist HealthCare does not condone or support all of the content covered in this site. As an Adventist health care organization, Adventist HealthCare acts in accordance with the ethical and religious directives for Adventist health care services.

Adventist HealthCare · 301-315-3030 · 1801 Research BLVD, Suite 400, Rockville, MD 20850

Submit an Online Information Request