Skull and Facial Fracture
Overview
SymptomsandDiagnosis
Symptoms
Problems may be: :
- Swelling and pain
- Headache
- Bruising
- Bleeding
- Leaking clear fluid through the nose
- Blood in the ears or nose
- Problems moving the face or mouth
- Uneven dental bite
- Eye problems, such as double vision or problems moving the eyes
- Breathing problems
- Problems hearing
- Numbness or tingling of the face
- Changes in the way the face looks
Treatments
Treatment
It will take several weeks to heal. The goals of treatment are to manage pain and support the bone as it heals. This may include:
- Medicine to ease pain
- Devices that help with breathing
Putting Bones Back in Place
Some fractures cause pieces of bone to come apart. These pieces will need to be put back into place. This may be done:
- Without surgery—anesthesia will be used to decrease pain while the doctor moves the pieces back into place
- With surgery—pins, wires, plates, screws, or stitches in the bone or tendons may be needed to reconnect the pieces and hold them in place
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.
Edits to original content made by Denver Health.
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a (Head Injury; Open Skull Fracture; Closed Skull Fracture; Fracture, Skull and Facial; Maxillary Fracture; Le Fort Fracture; Mandible Fracture; Zygomatic Fracture)
RESOURCES
American College of Emergency Physicians. http://www.acep.org
Brain Injury Association of America http://www.biausa.org
CANADIAN RESOURCES
Brain Injury Advocates http://biac-aclc.ca
Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians http://www.caep.ca
References
Bressan S, Marchetto L, et al. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Management and Outcomes of Isolated Skull Fractures in Children. Ann Emerg Med. 2017 Nov 23;pii:S0196-0644(17)31797-3.
Facial fractures. Cleveland Clinic website. Available at: http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/head-neck/treatments-services/facial-fractures. Updated November 12, 2015. Accessed December 5, 2019.
Maxillofacial injuries. Patient UK website. Available at: http://patient.info/doctor/maxillofacial-injuries. Updated December 19, 2014. Accessed December 5, 2019.
Skull fracture—emergency management. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/management/skull-fracture-emergency-management . Accessed December 5, 2019.