Facial Bone Fractures

Facial Fracture Causes

A fracture is a broken bone. Facial fracture refers to any injury that results in a bone or bones of the face being broken.

Many situations can cause facial fractures. Motor vehicle crashes, sporting injuries, falls, and assaults account for the majority, although injuries from gunshot wounds and stabbings occur as well. Always be concerned about other injuries with facial fractures. In particular, other parts of the body may be injured, for example, if a person has facial injuries in a motor vehicle accident, there may be other injuries. First, the doctor will control the nosebleed (if the patient has one). If there is a collection of blood inside the nose, called a septal hematoma, the doctor will drain it by cutting a hole in it to let the blood out.

Because the patient's nose will be very swollen at initially, a broken nose is not immediately put back into place (reduced). Even after the swelling improves, reducing a broken nose is necessary only if the patient will have a poor cosmetic result or airflow is obstructed. If it is necessary, a specialist will perform the procedure at a follow-up appointment. By this time, the swelling should have improved, and the bone should be put in place more accurately.