Facial Trauma Pathway

A Need For Action

Whether from sporting injuries, traffic accidents, cycling spills, or other forms of trauma, damage to the facial area can be truly significant.

Emergency response and casualty staff are trained to spot key symptoms and act in a way which will preserve life, along with core functionality.

When treating facial trauma, ensuring a clear airway is an early step, along with assessing any damage to the upper spine, both can require urgent action.

With a stable situation confirmed, checks can take place on facial bone cohesion and asymmetry, vision, or wider senses. A cranial nerve examination can shed further light on these and other essential functions.

Technology assists, from x-rays, to high resolution CT scans, enhancing the view of cranial and dental structures. This can also help to resolve concerns about the vital areas of blood circulation and brain injury.

A Multi Skilled Environment

From trauma unit members, or general surgeons, to an ophthalmologist, a variety of staff can be involved in treating and assessing facial injuries. For any which are serious, a maxillofacial consultant may be called in.

They have the ability to assess skin and soft tissue injuries, damage to the frontal bone, the jawbone, or maxillary bones. A consultant’s knowledge also helps with related blood, nerve, or sensory systems.

Whilst dealing with immediate needs is important, a maxillofacial surgeon will consider the longer term. Ensuring that information recorded, or decisions made help in looking to the future and long term recovery.

Scarring, or facial deformity need to be considered, the onset of conditions such as sinusitis, or whether nerve damage could hinder senses, or sensation. Unwanted tooth, or jaw alignment could bring functional issues.

Rebuilding Health

Whilst their advice and practical input contribute to initial treatment, the deeper benefits a maxillofacial surgeon brings can be some way down the road.

This may be part of pathway treatment, planned following the trauma, although our clinic also sees cases where the injury happened years earlier. This does not mean that good function and health can’t be restored.

Specialist skills available to treat facial trauma can rebuild most tissue. This could be jaw surgery, to restore function, dentoalveolar, microvascular, or other aesthetic surgery, to overcome disfigurement.

The psychological benefit of maxillofacial treatment is a critical factor a consultant will have in mind. Their skills are there to support other clinicians but above all, to ensure that facial trauma surgery can change lives.

If you are concerned over a recent, or historic facial injury, by all means talk to our friendly staff. They understand the implications and opportunities for specialist treatment.