With the evolution of surgical techniques, plastic surgery has become a great ally in the treatment of fractures, especially that of the face, a relatively sensitive region, which can suffer from severe trauma.
What types of fractures to the face would be?
The most common cases of facial fracture are in the nose, malar (cheek bone) and jaw. They are caused, most often, by falls, sports injuries, vehicle accidents and physical aggression. When untreated, the injury can lead to bone deviations, which in addition to compromising the aesthetic part can generate respiratory and masticatory problems.
How do you get it?
In our midst the most frequent cause of fractures and serious facial injuries is still the car accident. Other causes include gunshot wounds, assaults, domestic accidents (falls on stairs, gardens, school, square, etc.), work accidents and sports trauma. The most affected segments of the population are adolescents and young adults.
How do you make the diagnosis?
The diagnosis is made by clinical examination of the injuries and, in cases of suspected fracture, fundamentally by computed tomography. In skin injuries, facial movement and sensitivity should also be examined. It is important to always seek help at a specialized center so as not to let hidden lesions go undiagnosed.
Initial care in face trauma
We know that face injuries are very common. When they occur alone, most of the time they do not present a serious threat to life, and in these cases, their definitive care is left for a second moment, when the patient is already stabilized.
How does plastic surgery help in the treatment of these fractures?
Plastic surgery allows the recovery of fragile parts of the region, such as the skin and subcutaneous tissue — cellular tissue below the dermis. Through the modern techniques we currently have, we can correct the lesion, fixing the bone in the proper place and replacing its functionality.
Is any material applied in this procedure?
Among the treatments of proven efficacy are titanium plate treatments, which are made with metal compatible for magnetic resonance imaging. If before, in the postoperative period, it was impossible to perform the control of the patient with the steel plates, today we have this advantage, which allows excellent results in the short and long term. In most cases, with the use of these plates, we reached the expected goal with the performance of only one procedure.
After how long after the fracture is it possible to undergo the procedure? Are there contraindications?
Surgery is performed after the decrease in edema, which varies, on average, from 5 to 15 days. There are no contraindications; however, when the lesion is associated with other traumas, such as neurological and orthopedic, the surgical priority is for the resolution of these problems.
The face is a sensitive and more exposed region. Are the incisions more discreet?
The cuts to correct fractures are getting smaller and smaller, in addition to the use of modern materials that allow more safety. Complete corrections are a huge advance in complex cases, where conventional techniques do not provide the desired result. This can bring new hope to the great mutilated, for their return to social life.
How is the recovery period?
The recovery phase is usually 15 days, requiring weekly returns in the first month. The points are withdrawn in the first week. Sports practices and sun exposure should be moderate, according to the doctor’s guidelines.
