Facial Trauma

Causes

Facial nerve starts in the brain, and then tracks through a narrow space located inside the ear. The nerve then passes through the middle ear known as behind the ear drum and leaves through another narrow passage located under the ear area. It then branches out to provide muscle movement and sensation to various parts of the face and neck. The branches start inside the parotid gland and travel to the forehead, cheek, nose, mouth and neck.

Common causes of facial injury include:

• Violence
• Penetrating injuries
• Automobile accidents.

One of the most common causes of facial nerve paralysis a viral infection known as Bell's Palsy.

Signs

• Hemorrhage
• Enophthalmos, exophthalmos
• Ecchymoses
• Dysconjugate gaze
• Deformity
• Asymmetry
• Instability
• Malocclusion
• Stepoffs
• Crepitus
• Septal hematoma

Treatment

The patient is unable to perform any normal function, or a substantial cosmetic deformity occurs, the treatment is usually surgical. Goals include:

• By Controling bleeding.
• You can treat the broken bone segments with titanium plates and screws.
• Treatment should be immediate, as long as the patient is stable and cleared of all life-threatening injuries and the neck has been cleared of fractures.