The face requires very careful evaluation and specialized treatment following trauma. Trauma can result from various causes, ranging from motor vehicle and bike accidents to an assault or dog bite to the face. Depending on the mechanism, soft tissue injuries and bone fracture may occur. Dr. Alghoul uses modern techniques to fix facial bone fractures and meticulously repair the soft tissue to restore normal appearance.
Depending on the type of injury, complex and staged reconstruction may be required. Facial bone fractures including the jaw are usually fixed through concealed incisions inside the eyelid and the mouth. Titanium mini plates are used along with screws to stabilize the fracture.
What to Expect
Depending on the extent of injury, surgery can be performed under local or general anesthesia. Facial bone fractures are repaired under general anesthesia. A tetanus shot boost may be necessary. Antibiotics are given, especially with dog bites and contaminated wounds. Depending on the type of fracture, repair is usually performed within a day or two or may be postponed for a week to allow the swelling to subside. In certain fractures, such as nasal bone fractures, surgery involves reducing the fracture segments from the outside without incisions or plate fixation.
When facial lacerations are repaired, sutures are removed in seven days. Bruising and swelling is common, especially with facial fractures. Swelling around the eyes usually resolves within one to two weeks. Swelling in the lower cheek persists longer after repairing cheek or upper jaw fractures, and is associated with muscle stiffness and smile asymmetry that resolves gradually with time.
