Transcript
Facial Injuries and Disorders
Introduction
Facial injuries and disorders can cause pain and affect how you look. In severe cases,
they can affect sight, speech, breathing and your ability to swallow. There are many
injuries and disorders that can affect the face. Treatment for facial injuries and
disorders depends on the cause. In some cases, treatment may not be needed. If
treatment is needed, it may include medicines, surgery or other therapies.
This reference summary explains facial injuries and disorders. It covers common facial
injuries and disorders, including trigeminal neuralgia, Bell’s palsy, cleft lip and cleft
palate and facial sports injuries. It also covers treatment options.
Trigeminal Neuralgia
The trigeminal nerve is the nerve responsible for most of
the sensation in the face. There is a nerve on the right
side of the face and another one on the left side.
Trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by severe pain in
the face. The pain lasts for few seconds and can spread
to the rest of the face. But it is usually limited to one
division of the trigeminal nerve.
Between bouts of severe pain, the patient is usually pain
free. Specific sites in the patient’s face, such as the
corner of the mouth, gum or lip, can act as a trigger
point. The pain can be set off when one of these sites is
touched. The pain can be so severe that the patient may
refrain from eating or speaking. It is still not clear what
Trigeminal Nerve
causes this pain. Trigeminal neuralgia is most often
thought to be caused by abnormal compression of the ganglion of the trigeminal nerve
by a normal blood vessel that has become more rigid because of advanced age.
This document is for informational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a doctor or healthcare professional or a
recommendation for any particular treatment plan. Like any printed material, it may become out of date over time. It is important that you rely on the
advice of a doctor or a healthcare professional for your specific condition.
©1995-2014, The Patient Education Institute, Inc. www.X-Plain.com
Last reviewed: 06/13/2014
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Other reasons for trigeminal neuralgia include:
• Abnormal blood vessels.
• Multiple sclerosis.
• Tumors.
But these are very rare.
Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a nervous system
disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. It
causes trouble with coordination and balance,
muscle weakness and memory problems.
Medicines taken by mouth usually take care of the symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia. If
these medicines fail to reduce pain or are not tolerated by the patient because of their
side effects, an operation may be needed. There are many surgical options to treat
trigeminal neuralgia. The best option depends on the patient’s age, medical condition
and expectations.
Bell’s Palsy
Bell’s palsy is a temporary paralysis of one side of the
face. It affects thousands of people every year. In patients
with Bell’s palsy, the facial nerve suddenly quits working.
The weakness reaches its worst point within 48 hours.
The facial muscles are also paralyzed by Bell’s palsy.
With the facial muscles paralyzed, the eye is not able to
close and the mouth droops. Bell’s palsy usually improves
on its own in a matter of weeks to months. Along with
paralysis, Bell’s palsy patients may experience sounds
being louder than usual. They may have some pain in the ear area.
Patients with Bell’s palsy may experience loss of taste sensations on the affected side
of the mouth. Lack of taste is sometimes not even noticed since the other side of the
tongue’s taste sensation still works. The cause of Bell’s palsy is thought to be a viral
infection of the facial nerve. Infection causes the nerve to swell. Swelling may cause
the nerve to injure itself in the thin bony tunnel on its way to the face.
This document is for informational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a doctor or healthcare professional or a
recommendation for any particular treatment plan. Like any printed material, it may become out of date over time. It is important that you rely on the
advice of a doctor or a healthcare professional for your specific condition.
©1995-2014, The Patient Education Institute, Inc. www.X-Plain.com
Last reviewed: 06/13/2014
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Herpes simplex, the common cold sore virus, is thought to cause the viral infection that
leads to Bell’s palsy.
Bell’s palsy is also more common in:
• Patients suffering from the flu or a cold.
• Patients with diabetes.
• Pregnant women.
Other diseases that can cause symptoms similar
to Bell’s palsy include:
• Infections.
• Strokes.
• Tumors.
75% of patients with Bell’s palsy improve without
treatment. But recent studies have shown that
treatment with steroids and an antiviral medicine
are probably effective in improving facial function.
Face massage can keep facial muscles from contracting, keeping them flexible and
elastic for when the nerve heals.
Patients may also be given an eye patch and eye drops to protect the eye from injury
and from drying up. In rare cases of Bell’s palsy, surgery may be recommended. A
surgery to take the pressure off the nerve in the narrow canal in the base of the skull is
rarely done. Plastic surgery may help improve a patient’s appearance if Bell’s palsy
does not improve.
Cleft Lip and Palate
Cleft lip and cleft palate are birth defects that happen when
a baby's lip or mouth do not form properly. They happen
early during pregnancy. A baby can have a cleft lip, a cleft
palate or both. Cleft lip is more common than cleft palate.
A cleft lip happens if the tissue that makes up the lip does
not join completely before birth. This causes an opening in
the upper lip. The opening can be a small slit. Sometimes
the opening is large and goes through the lip into the nose.
This document is for informational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a doctor or healthcare professional or a
recommendation for any particular treatment plan. Like any printed material, it may become out of date over time. It is important that you rely on the
advice of a doctor or a healthcare professional for your specific condition.
©1995-2014, The Patient Education Institute, Inc. www.X-Plain.com
Last reviewed: 06/13/2014
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A cleft lip can be on one or both sides of the lip. Rarely, it can happen in the middle of
the lip. Children with a cleft lip also can have a cleft palate. The
roof of the mouth is called the "palate." With a cleft palate, the
tissue that makes up the roof of the mouth does not join
correctly. Among some babies, both the front and back parts of
the palate are open. Among other babies, only part of the
palate is open.
The causes of cleft lip and cleft palate are unknown. Cleft lip
and cleft palate are thought to be caused by a combination of
genes and other factors, such as environmental exposures. If
you smoke or have diabetes, you have an increased risk of
having a baby with a cleft lip or cleft palate.
Children with a cleft lip or a cleft palate may have:
• Dental problems.
• Frequent ear infections.
• Hearing loss.
• Problems with feeding and talking.
Often, surgery can close the lip and palate.
Cleft lip surgery is usually done before age
12 months, and cleft palate surgery is done
before 18 months. Many children will need
additional surgeries as they get older.
Although surgical repair can improve the look
and appearance of a child’s face, it may also improve breathing, hearing, speech and
language. Many children may need dental and orthodontic care and speech therapy as
they get older.
Facial Sports Injuries
Sports can result in a variety of different injuries to the face. But many sports injuries
can be prevented by wearing the proper safety gear. When the face is injured due to
sports, it can result in fractures. Fractures are also known as broken bones. Facial
fractures can be serious. They require medical attention.
This document is for informational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a doctor or healthcare professional or a
recommendation for any particular treatment plan. Like any printed material, it may become out of date over time. It is important that you rely on the
advice of a doctor or a healthcare professional for your specific condition.
©1995-2014, The Patient Education Institute, Inc. www.X-Plain.com
Last reviewed: 06/13/2014
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Facial fractures can cause swelling or bruising of the face, such as a black eye. Other
common symptoms are:
• Changes in teeth structure.
• Double or blurred vision.
• Nosebleeds.
• Not being able to close the mouth properly.
• Pain or numbness in the face, cheeks or lips.
When you are hit in the upper face, it can fracture the delicate
bones around the sinuses, eye sockets, bridge of the nose or
cheek bones. A direct blow to the eye may cause a fracture,
as well as serious eye injuries. When you are hit in the jaw or
lower face, it may change the way your teeth fit together. It
may also affect your ability to close your mouth.
Besides fractures, sports facial injuries can also include injury to the soft tissues of the
face. Soft tissue injuries include bruises, cuts and scrapes. Soft tissue injuries can
happen due to high speed or contact sports, such as boxing, football or ice hockey.
Most of these injuries can be treated at home.
Some soft tissue injuries require medical care. Seek
medical attention right away if you have:
• Deep skin cuts or scrapes.
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing.
• Loss of facial movement.
• Obvious facial deformity.
• Persistent bleeding.
• Vision changes.
The nose is one of the most injured areas on the face.
Nasal injuries should be examined by a health care
provider if they cause:
• A deformity of the nose.
• Breathing difficulties.
• Persistent bleeding.
This document is for informational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a doctor or healthcare professional or a
recommendation for any particular treatment plan. Like any printed material, it may become out of date over time. It is important that you rely on the
advice of a doctor or a healthcare professional for your specific condition.
©1995-2014, The Patient Education Institute, Inc. www.X-Plain.com
Last reviewed: 06/13/2014
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Treatment for facial sports injuries depends on the injury. Applying pressure and using
an ice pack for the first 24 to 48 hours can reduce
bruising and swelling. Scrapes and cuts should be
washed with soap and water to remove any foreign
material. This also helps prevent infection. For deeper
scrapes and cuts, stitches may be necessary.
If the teeth alignment is changed, surgery may be
needed. Broken jaws can also be repaired with surgery.
Your health care provider will explain your treatment
options. Sometimes fractured bones are set right away
before swelling develops. Fractures may also be
repaired after the swelling is gone. These fractures can
be repaired under local or general anesthesia, even weeks after the injury.
Surgery may also be needed to restore proper function of the nasal air passages and
normal appearance of the nose. Swelling and bruising of the nose may last for 10 days
or longer.
Summary
Facial injuries and disorders can cause pain
and affect how you look. In severe cases,
they can affect sight, speech, breathing and
your ability to swallow.
There are many injuries and disorders that
can affect the face, including:
• Trigeminal neuralgia.
• Bell’s palsy.
• Cleft lip and cleft palate.
• Facial sports injuries.
Treatment for facial injuries and disorders depends on the cause. In some cases,
treatment may not be needed. If treatment is needed, it may include medicines,
surgery or other therapies.
This document is for informational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a doctor or healthcare professional or a
recommendation for any particular treatment plan. Like any printed material, it may become out of date over time. It is important that you rely on the
advice of a doctor or a healthcare professional for your specific condition.
©1995-2014, The Patient Education Institute, Inc. www.X-Plain.com
Last reviewed: 06/13/2014
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