Facial Trauma Surgery
Austin, TX
What Is Facial Trauma
Facial trauma, as the name indicates, is the physical trauma that affects the face. This can either be soft tissue trauma, such as bruises and lacerations, or hard tissue trauma, such as fractures. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are the professionals that specialize in correcting all major and minor forms of facial trauma following careful evaluation of the case, diagnosis, treatment planning, execution of required surgical procedures and follow-ups.
Injuries that involve the facial region, in severe cases, can result in deformities. This is why diagnostic tools such as dental radiographs and angiographs to form the basis of all treatment planning. The knowledge of the extent of the injury, the involvement of soft gum tissue, the type of fracture and site of trauma is critical for OMF surgeons. Depending upon the severity of the trauma, treatment options can either be medical, surgical, or a combination of both.
Causes of Facial Trauma
Facial traumas can result from road accidents, sports injuries, gunshots, blunt assaults, and direct blows to the face, blasts, animal attacks, and workplace injuries, among others. In case of soft tissue traumas, surgeons may opt for treatments including suturing, antibiotic therapy, analgesics, and drugs to control and correct swelling. For hard tissues injuries or fractures however, surgery is necessary to prevent permanent facial deformities and damage to organs in close proximity to the trauma site.
Main Types of Facial Trauma
The main types of soft tissue traumas are:
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Abrasions
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Lacerations
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Burns
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Cold injuries
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Bruises
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Avulsions |
Facial bones that are most prone to fracture include the nasal bone, upper jaw or maxilla, lower jaw or mandible, the temporomandibular joint, the zygomatic bone, and the frontal bone. Fractures of the face are graded based on the Le Fort system of classification.
At Oral Surgery Specialists of Austin, we specialize in oral and maxillofacial surgeries. Learn more about trauma and different treatment options by scheduling an appointment, or giving us a call at (512) 547-6852 today!
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