Panfacial trauma means breaks in more than one area of the face at the same time. This can include the forehead, the cheekbones, the eye sockets, the upper jaw, and the lower jaw together. It usually comes from a high-energy injury, such as a major road accident.
Why it is different
There are many broken parts. So surgeons cannot use the nearby bones as a guide, because those bones are also broken. Instead, they work to a plan and an order. They rebuild the face from stable landmarks outward. They use the bite as the anchor to set the jaws in the correct place.
What the repair involves
- Detailed CT images, and often 3D-printed models, for the plan.
- A repair in stages, in a set order. The team rebuilds the width, the height, and the projectionHow far a part of the face stands out from the head. step by step.
- TitaniumA strong, light metal. Surgeons use it for the plates and screws that hold bone. plates and screws hold each part. The airway and the eyes stay safe through all the steps.
The recovery takes longer than for one fractureA break or a crack in a bone.. Several teams share the care.