What is Facial Trauma?
Facial trauma is an any injury to the face which can follow sporting injuries, workplace accidents, road traffic accidents or from interpersonal violence. Left untreated some injuries can leave permanent disfigurement or issues with sight, breathing, mouth opening or eating. Your dentist, GP or Emergency physician will refer you to Dr Oztel if you have sustained facial injuries.
Facial trauma includes fractures (broken bone) of mandible (lower jaw), maxilla (upper jaw), nasal bones (nose), Orbit (eye socket), zygoma (cheek bone) or forehead (frontal bone). It also includes soft tissue injuries and lacerations to the head and neck area.
What does facial trauma surgery involve?
Treatment of facial injuries varies depending on the severity of the injury. Lacerations can be treated with cleaning and closure of wounds whereas fracture of facial bones may require more extensive surgery.
Facial fractures are often treated under a general anaesthetic and undergo open reduction (realignment of the bones) and internal fixation (placement of titanium plates and screws) to stabilize the fracture and allow time for the body to heal.
What to Expect after Facial Trauma Surgery
Recovery after surgery will depend on your age, medical conditions and extent of surgery. Bone healing can take up to 6 weeks for initial healing and up to 3-6 months before you can go back to activities like full contact sport.
If you have any questions or concerns in the post-operative period, Dr Oztel will be available to discuss these with you.
About
Dr Mehmet Oztel
Dr Oztel is an Australian trained contemporary Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. He has completed 17 years of study and training in Medicine, Dentistry and Surgery specialising in the surgical management of the teeth, jaws and face.
