A facial fracture is a broken bone in the face. The face has a complex bone structure. The facial skeleton consists of the:

 

• Frontal bone (forehead).
• Zygomas (cheekbones).
• Orbital bones (eye sockets).
• Nasal bones.
• Maxillary bones (upper jaw).
• Mandible (lower jaw).

 

There are many other bones that are found deeper within the facial structure. Muscles required for chewing, swallowing and talking are attached to these bones.

 

Is a facial fracture a serious problem?

 

If you suffer from a facial injury, you should seek immediate medical attention. Some fractures are minor. However, complex fractures may cause irreversible damage and can even be life-threatening.

Located near to the bones in your face are the nerves and muscles that are responsible for sensations, expressions and eye movements. The muscles and nerves are located near to the facial bones. The face is close to the brain and central nervous system (CNS). Fractures may result in damage to cranial nerves, depending on the particular type and location of the fracture. Fractures to the orbit (eye socket) may result in problems with vision. Fractures of the nose may make it difficult for the injured person to breathe or smell. Also, fractures of the jawbones may cause breathing problems or make it difficult to chew, speak, or swallow.

 

 What are the kinds of facial fractures?

There are several main types of facial fractures.

• Nasal bones (broken nose): Nasal bone fractures are the most common type of facial fracture. The nasal bone is made up of two thin bones. It takes less force to break the nasal bones than other facial bones because they are thin and prominent. Usually, the nose looks deformed or feels sore to the touch after a fracture. Swelling in the area might make it more difficult to assess how much damage has occurred. Nosebleeds and bruising around the nose are common symptoms of a nasal fracture.
• Frontal bone (forehead) fractures: The frontal bone is the main bone in the forehead area. A high-impact injury to the head can cause a fracture of the frontal bone and floor of the sinuses. The fracture is mostly likely to occur in the middle of the forehead. That’s where the bone is the thinnest and weakest. An injury may cause the bone to be indented (pushed inward). Substantial force is required to fracture the frontal bone, so often other injuries to the face and skull or neurological trauma may be present. Associated problems may include leakage of the cerebrospinal fluid, eye injuries and damage to the sinus ducts.
• Zygomaticomaxillary fractures (broken cheekbone/upper jaw): The zygomas (cheekbones) are attached at several points to the upper jaw (maxilla) and bones of the skull. Fractures to the cheekbone(s) might also involve breaks in other facial bones nearby.
• Orbital fractures (eye socket): There are three main types of orbital fractures.
  • Orbital rim fracture: The outer rim is the thickest part of the eye socket. It requires a lot of force to break the bone. Many other injuries may accompany an orbital rim fracture, such as damage to the optic nerve.
  • Blowout fractures: The orbital rim remains intact in this case, but a crack forms in the thin bone at the lower part of the eye socket. The eye muscles and other structures can become entrapped in the break and prevent the eyeball from moving normally.
  • Direct orbital floor fracture: This is a rim fracture that extends into the lower socket.
• Mid-face (Le Fort fractures): Blunt force trauma tends to cause fractures along three lines of weakness in the mid-face. One characteristic of all types of Le Fort fractures is the fracture of the pterygoid processes, part of the sphenoid bone. There are three main types of Le Fort fractures, but there may be individual variations.
  • Le Fort I: The fracture extends above the upper jaw (maxilla).
  • Le Fort II: The fracture extends from the lower part of one cheek, below the eye, across the bridge of the nose, and to the lower part of the other cheek.
  • Le Fort III: The fracture extends across the bridge of the nose and the bones surrounding the eyes.
• Mandible (lower jaw): The mandible holds the lower teeth in place and moves when you are talking or chewing. Fractures of the lower jaw affect the sections of the lower jaw that supports teeth (called the body), the part where the jaw curves upwards into the neck (the angle) or the knob-shaped joint at the top of the jaw bone (the condyle) or the point where the two sides of the lower jaw are joined (the symphysis). If you have a break in the lower jaw, you may also have broken or loose teeth.

 

What are the symptoms of a facial fracture?

 

Symptoms of a fracture to the face may include pain as well as bruising, swelling or tenderness.

 

Symptoms of a nose fracture may include:

 

• Purplish patch on skin caused when blood leaks from broken blood vessels (also called bruising or ecchymosis).
• Discoloration under the eyes (“black eyes”).
• Blockage of one or both nostrils or a deviated septum.
• Twisted or crooked nose or indented bridge.
• Nosebleed.

 

Symptoms of an orbital fracture may include:

 

• Blurry, decreased or double vision (diplopia).
• Difficulty in moving eyes left, right, up or down.
• Swollen forehead or cheek or swelling under the eyes.
• Flatness of the cheeks.
• Sunken or bulging eyeballs.
• Facial numbness near the injury.
• Blood or discoloration in the white part of the eye.

 

Symptoms of upper or lower jaw fractures:

• Trouble with chewing, eating, or speaking.
• Loose, broken or missing teeth.
• Teeth not fitting together properly.
• Cheek pain when opening the mouth.