Facial Trauma Mount Kisco, NY
Facial Trauma Surgery provided by Dr. Gary Orentlicher and Dr. Andrew Horowitz in Mt. Kisco, NY at New York Oral, Maxillofacial, and Implant Surgery
Facial trauma can range from simple cuts to far more severe injuries like broken teeth and fractured facial bones. These injuries impact both your appearance and essential functions like eating and speaking. Fortunately, our skilled dentists at New York Oral, Maxillofacial, and Implant Surgery offer a variety of treatment options to help restore your smile and well-being.
Types of Facial Injuries
Panfacial Fractures
Panfacial fractures affect at least three different parts of the face. This type of injury impairs or changes the appearance. In severe cases, these fractures can cause the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the brain to leak through the openings on the face. You can get a broken jaw when you suffer a panfacial fracture, and the injury can affect your swallowing, eating, chewing, and speaking functions.
Maxillary Fractures
Midfacial fractures affect the bones on the midface, and they are usually put into three categories. Categorized as Le Fort fractures, LeFort I transverses the line above your teeth and below the nose. LeFort II refers to the injury that affects one or both sides of the face. This particular category can leave a crack in the facial bones that goes down to the lower edge of the eye socket across the bridge of the nose and behind the upper teeth. LeFort III leaves a horizontal line that runs across the back of the eye socket. You can easily suffer the third category of injury when you experience a forceful blow that moves downwards.
An Orbital Floor Fracture
Orbital fractures refer to facial injuries that leave your eye sockets broken. You can suffer a broken eye socket that affects the eye socket along the thick outer edges. In other instances, you can suffer a direct impact on your face, such as being hit in the face by a high-flying baseball. The baseball might leave the outer rim of your eye sockets unharmed but break the bone just below the eye socket enough to leave a gaping hole.
Facial Soft Tissue Injuries
Facial trauma can also leave your soft tissues injured in several ways. For example, you can get facial lacerations, which also means tearing your skin open. Such soft tissue injuries may seem less concerning, but you risk excessive bleeding, infection, and permanent scarring.
Mandibular Fracture
Mandibular fractures are injuries to the jawbone. This type of facial trauma accounts for the greatest proportion of maxillofacial fractures. Breaking your jaws can impact your breathing, and the first priority for emergency responders is to secure the jaws and restore your breathing. Mandibular fractures tend to become severe because the jaw lacks any form of support.
Major Impacts of Facial Trauma
Airway Damage
Nasal fractures can leave you with a broken nose and other fractures. Any resultant swelling can affect your nasal passageway and make it almost impossible for you to breathe.
Neurological Problems
Many facial injuries are also known to cause head trauma. Head trauma can impact the skull and the brain, resulting in neurological problems. Our dentist will check out for uneven pupils, any cerebrospinal fluid leaks, and any other effects on the central nervous system.
Internal Bleeding
Facial injuries can cause internal bleeding. This bleeding can increase pressure on your skull, putting your brain, eyes, nerves, and other sensitive structures at risk of further harm.
Facial Injury Diagnosis
The oral surgeon will start with a careful physical examination. The next step in the diagnosis will involve imaging tests done using computed CT scans, which are considered the most effective way to assess face trauma as they allow the doctor to image blood vessels, bone, soft tissue, and other structures. If your injuries require plastic and reconstructive surgery, our oral surgeon may order more images in order to make effective plans for the surgery.
Facial Trauma Management and Treatment
The first medications our oral surgeon will recommend are pain relievers and corticosteroids to reduce the swelling and prevent further risks to your overall health. The next step in the management and treatment of facial injuries involves reduction and fixation.
Reduction
Reduction is the process our surgeon will use to reset any broken bones and get them back in their correct position. There are two types of reductions. The first type is closed reduction, which involves resetting your broken bones manually without making any cuttings or surgery. Open reduction involves resetting your bones through surgical intervention.
Fixation
Fixation is the process of ensuring that the bones that have been returned to their new positions stay in place long enough for them to heal. Our oral surgeon will keep you in one position and ask you to avoid any movement during recovery. Sometimes, fixation will involve using surgical plates, wires, and screws.
Reconstructive Surgery
Some facial traumas are too complex, and reduction or fixation might not restore your original looks. Facial reconstructive surgery can help restore your original functions, like swallowing, vision, chewing, and nasal breathing. Reconstructive surgery also primarily enhances and optimizes your appearance. Following your reconstructive surgery, our oral surgeon will work closely with several specialists to ensure your optimal recovery.
Ophthalmologist
An ophthalmologist will focus on injuries involving your eyes. They will work to restore your vision and eye movement.
Neurosurgeon
A neurosurgeon will focus on restoring movement and sensation to your face. They will achieve this through careful planning of your reconstruction, grafting, and nerve transfers.
Mental Health Specialists
These specialists can help you address any psychological issues arising from the trauma you suffered. Their services will address post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and any other issues that can affect your mental health.
How Long It Takes to Recover After a Facial Fracture
The amount of time you will need to fully recover after a facial injury depends on the extent of your facial trauma. The time it takes you to recover fully also depends on the healing capacity of your body and the type of treatment used to reset your broken bones.
Get Your Facial Injury Treatment with Us
Facial trauma can be devastating and life-threatening. You must seek medical help as soon as possible to prevent your health from deteriorating further as a result of these zygomatic fractures. Visit us at New York Oral, Maxillofacial, and Implant Surgery to discuss your orthognathic surgery options. Contact us at (914) 689-7550 for an appointment. |