Facial Trauma

Original Editor - User: Wendy Walker

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Introduction

Trauma to the face and head can be caused by a number of events: explosions, gunshot, road traffic accidents, falling masonry, flying glass, etc.

There can be bony damage - fractures in any of the bones of the head and face, but particularly common in the mandible - and also soft tissue.

Initial repair following serious facial trauma is performed by surgeons; fractured bones will be plated or wired, skin and soft tissue lacerations will be stitched, large areas of severe soft tissue damage may require grafting.

The physiotherapy rehabilitation of these patients is thus largely post operative rehabilitation.

Initial Stages

The face has a very rich blood supply, so healing is usually rapid.

In areas of thin skin (eg. the eyelids) sutures can normally be removed after just 3-4 days, and elsewhere on the face they are often removed after 6 days.

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