• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2024

The facial nerve stimulates the muscles of facial expression and the parasympathetic nerves of the face. Consequently, facial nerve paralysis can lead to facial asymmetry, deformation, and functional impairment. Facial nerve palsy is most commonly idiopathic, as with Bell palsy, but it can also result from a tumor or trauma. In this article, we discuss traumatic facial nerve injury. To identify the cause of the injury, it is important to first determine its location. The location and extent of the damage inform the treatment method, with options including primary repair, nerve graft, cross-face nerve graft, nerve crossover, and muscle transfer. Intracranial proximal facial nerve injuries present a challenge to surgical approaches due to the complexity of the temporal bone. Surgical intervention in these cases requires a collaborative approach between neurosurgery and otolaryngology, and nerve repair or grafting is difficult. This article describes the treatment of peripheral facial nerve injury. Primary repair generally offers the best prognosis. If primary repair is not feasible within 6 months of injury, nerve grafting should be attempted, and if more than 12 months have elapsed, functional muscle transfer should be performed. If the affected nerve cannot be utilized at that time, the contralateral facial nerve, ipsilateral masseter nerve, or hypoglossal nerve can serve as the donor nerve. Other accompanying symptoms, such as lagophthalmos or midface ptosis, must also be considered for the successful treatment of facial nerve injury.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.261-267
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• 2022

Purpose: With the increasing number of polytrauma patients treated at high-level trauma centers, plastic surgery has entered the specialty of traumatology. Plastic surgeons specialize in the simultaneous surgical care of patients with facial or hand trauma and soft tissue injuries requiring microsurgery. The purpose of this study was to introduce the role of plastic surgery in a high-level trauma center. Methods: Between January 2020 and December 2020, 5,712 patients with traumatic injuries were admitted to the emergency department of a tertiary hospital. Of these 5,712 patients, 1,578 patients were hospitalized for surgical treatment and/or critical care. Among the 1,578 hospitalized trauma patients, 551 patients (35%) required at least one plastic surgery procedure. The patient variables included age, sex, etiology, the injured area, and injury characteristics. We also retrospectively investigated surgical data such as the duration of the operation, hospital stay, length of time from injury to surgery, and collaboration with other departments. Results: The most common injury referred to plastic surgery was facial trauma (41%), followed by hand trauma (36%), and soft tissue injuries requiring microsurgery in various parts of the body other than the hand (7%). The majority of facial and hand traumas were concomitant injuries. Sixteen percent of patients underwent collaborative surgical management for polytrauma involving both plastic surgery and another department. Conclusions: The role of plastic surgery in multidisciplinary teams at high-level trauma centers has become increasingly important. The results of this study may help in the development of multidisciplinary trauma team strategies and future workforce planning.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.42
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• pp.22.1-22.6
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• 2020

Introduction: Facial fractures (FFs) occur after high- and low-energy trauma; differences in associated injuries and outcomes have not been well articulated. Objective: To compare the epidemiology, management, and outcomes of patients suffering FFs from high-energy and low-energy mechanisms. Methods: We conducted a 6-year retrospective local trauma registry analysis of adults aged 18-55 years old that suffered a FF treated at the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. Fracture patterns, concomitant injuries, procedures, and outcomes were compared between patients that suffered a high-energy mechanism (HEM: motor vehicle crash, bicycle crash, auto versus pedestrian, falls from height > 20 feet) and those that suffered a low-energy mechanism (LEM: assault, ground-level falls) of injury. Results: FFs occurred in 123 patients, 25 from an HEM and 98 from an LEM. Rates of Le Fort (HEM 12% vs. LEM 3%, P = 0.10), mandible (HEM 20% vs. LEM 38%, P = 0.11), midface (HEM 84% vs. LEM 67%, P = 0.14), and upper face (HEM 24% vs. LEM 13%, P = 0.217) fractures did not significantly differ between the HEM and LEM groups, nor did facial operative rates (HEM 28% vs. LEM 40%, P = 0.36). FFs after an HEM event were associated with increased Injury Severity Scores (HEM 16.8 vs. LEM 7.5, P <0.001), ICU admittance (HEM 60% vs. LEM 13.3%, P <0.001), intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) (HEM 52% vs. LEM 15%, P <0.001), cervical spine fractures (HEM 12% vs. LEM 0%, P = 0.008), truncal/lower extremity injuries (HEM 60% vs. LEM 6%, P <0.001), neurosurgical procedures for the management of ICH (HEM 54% vs. LEM 36%, P = 0.003), and decreased Glasgow Coma Score on arrival (HEM 11.7 vs. LEM 14.2, P <0.001). Conclusion: FFs after HEM events were associated with severe and multifocal injuries. FFs after LEM events were associated with ICH, concussions, and cervical spine fractures. Mechanism-based screening strategies will allow for the appropriate detection and management of injuries that occur concomitant to FFs. Type of study: Retrospective cohort study. Level of evidence: Level III.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.775-782
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• 2011

Purpose: Nasal bone fracture is most common facial bone fracture. The cause of fractures is mainly trauma such as fighting, automobile accident and fall down, and it commonly involves young males. Very frequently nasal bone fractures are associated with other facial injuries such as orbital bone fracture, maxillary bone fracture and nasal septal deformities. Because of various dynamic directions of power are involved, phenomenon of fractures are also various and treatment cannot be simple. Methods: We studied and analyzed retrospectively 452 cases nasal bone fractures from January 2008 to December 2010. Diagnosis were made with physical examination, Nasal bone X-rays, Facial bone CT and 3D facial bone CT. Four surgeons are involved in treatments of these patients and applied different procedure along patient's condition and deformity. We analyzed the cause of nasal bone fractures, deformities, associate injuries and applied surgical technique, and patient's satisfaction rate. In this study, old nasal bone fractures were excluded. Results: Young male group was most commonly sustained nasal bone fracture and physical violence was most common cause of injury. 64 of 452 patient was involved associate injuries of face. Closed reduction were applied 246 cases and C-arm quide reduction were 167 cases and in 20 cases lateral osteotomy were applied. Approximately, more than 80% of the Patients were satisfied with the outcomes. Conclusion: Diagnosis and treatment of nasal bone fractures are considered simple but because of various deformity and associate injuries, treatment is not always simple and universal. Time to time, we face unsatisfied patient after treatment of nasal bone fractures. For obtaining satisfactory result, cause of injury and state of deformities and associate injuries such as nasal septal deformity should be evaluated properly and proper treatment should be applied.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.60-63
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• 2003

Gunshot injuries can range from the most minor to the life-threatening. Multidisciplinary care is required for successful management of patients, In the acute phase, care may involve emergency surgeons, anaesthesists, neurosurgeons, ophthalmic surgeons, vascular surgeons, ENT specialist in addition to the oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Afterwards, definitive treatment of facial gunshot injuries depends ultimately on the abilities and skills of the oral and maxillofacial surgeons, and their appreciation of such injuries. The timing and sequence of the surgical procedures used for reconstruction and rehabilitation of maxillofacial gunshot injuries are crucial to a successful outcome and aesthetic result. If incorrect, they may lead indefinitely to infection, graft rejection, wound dehiscence with consequent multiple revisional operations and complication which will prolong hospital stay and increase treatment costs and morbidity on those patients. We present a gunshot case of a 46-year-old man who tried to commit sucide, and have avulsive and penerating wounds on the face and the neck. We removed the scattered bullets and fragments successfully and the wounds were closed primarily.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.233-241
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• 2021

Purpose: The medical community has been heavily impacted by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. The management of facial trauma patients has been affected by the patient capacity of emergency rooms. In this study, we share our experiences of facial trauma management during the social lockdown period and investigate the epidemiological changes in facial bone fractures. Methods: A total of 997 patients who presented to Ajou University Hospital Emergency Center and were evaluated by plastic or maxillofacial surgeons for facial trauma were included in this retrospective study. Our study design was a comparative study of two groups: the 2019 group (control) and the 2020 group (the experimental group that experienced social lockdown). Results: The total number of emergency room inpatients reflected the national pandemic trends with three peaks in patient numbers. According to these trends, facial bone fractures had two different low points in August 2020 and December 2020. A comparison of the 2019 and 2020 facial bone fractures did not show a statistically significant difference in the total number of patients. An analysis of the causes of trauma showed that domestic accidents increased in 2020 (30.92%; p<0.001). Among the anatomical sites of facial injury in surgical patients, the frontozygomatic complex fracture increased the most in 2020 (p=0.018). Facial injuries with two separate sites of injury or with three or more involved sites also showed a significant increase in 2020 (p<0.001). Conclusions: We demonstrated that the incidence of facial trauma patients correlated with the incidence of patients presenting to the emergency department and that facial trauma is inextricably related to multi-trauma cases. Domestic accidents and facial trauma with multiple anatomically involved sites are increasing trends that need more attention.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 2010

Purpose: To research about maxillofacial traumatic injuries of children in aspects of gender difference, various incidence rates between age, trauma type, cause, monthly and daily incidence rate, type of tooth damage, gingival damage, soft tissue damage, and type of facial bone fracture. Materials and methods: Study group consisted of children under 15 years of age who visited Dental Hospital, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University from 2004/7/1 to 2007/6/30 with chief complaint of oral and maxillofacial traumatic injuries. 1,559 cases of traumatic injuries were studied from 1,556 (1,004 male, 552 female) children. Conclusion: 1. There were slightly more boys than girls, giving a male-to-female ratio of 1.82:1.0. The 1-3 year old boys and girls had the highest number of traumatic injuries. 2. Of the 1,556 patients, 68.63% had soft tissue injuries, 50.22% had periodontal injuries, 29.89% had teeth injuries, and 3.85% had maxillofacial bone fractures. 3. Falling down was the most common cause of injury in both sexes. 4. The months with the highest incidence rates were in order May (12.12%), June (11.74%), and October (11.13%). Most of the injuries occurred on weekends. 5. The most common tooth injury was uncomplicated crown fracture, and the most common periodontal injury was subluxation. The majority of traumatizes teeth were the upper central incisors. 6. The most common soft tissue injury was intraoral lacerations. 7. Mandibular fractures were most frequent in facial bone fractures; symphysis, condylar head, and angle fractures were most frequent in mandibular fractures; maxillary and nasal bone fractures were most frequent in midfacial bone fractures.

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2016

Sympathetic reaction to grotesque facial injuries with oral bleeding can trigger confusion and generate inefficiency among emergency room personnel. Regardless of the extent of the injury, or of the sympathy elicated, the victim must be evaluated and treated as a whole patient with multiple trauma. There must be no confusion as to order of importance in the steps of evaluation : 1. airway 2. hemorrhage 3. shock 4. associated injuries 5. local injury 6. triage of facial injuries. The most dangerous aspect of oral hemorrhage is the possibility of its obstructing the upper airway. Swallowing large amounts of blood will usually cause gastric irritation and lead to vomiting, thus further complicating the management of the patient. Once a clear airway is assured and hemorrhage have been controlled, consideration is given to possible associated injuries before undertaking treatment of the facial injuries themselves. Status of the cardiopulmonary, gastrointestinal and neuromuscular systems all have a bearing on decisions concerning facial injury treatment. In this light, treatment priority becomes exceeding important. On the other hand, the importance of facial injuries should never be minimized, especially in a mentally retarded patient with oral hemorrhage. This is a case report about oral hemorrhage control as treatment priority in a mentally retarded patient.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.11 no.8
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• pp.219-225
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to retrospectively investigate the contributing factors in facial soft tissue injuries among children. A record-based analysis was carried out on 126 patients with facial lacerations who visited I hospital in the dept of plastic surgery from April 2010 to May 2011. Through all age group showed a significant difference in incidence rate for male and female.(p<.05). Overall, 49% of injuries occurred outdoors and the most frequent cause of injury was slip-down (42%), followed by being struck (40%). In general, the frequency of injuries peaked summer(30.2%) and increased between 12pm and 4pm. 105 patients (83.3%) arrived at the emergency room within an hour. The forehead(26%) was the most commonly injured area. The depth of soft tissue injuries was mostly subcutaneous(54%), and 1~2cm was the length of injury with the highest incidence(46%). Most children (40%) needed local anesthesia and only 4 children (1.53%) suffered associated fractures. Facial injuries require special attention because of their potential threat in inducing permanent scar or disfigurement. For the safety of children, the preventive measures to reduce facial soft tissue injuries must be improved.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.264-276
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• 1995

This is a clinical and retrospective study on the patients with oral and maxillofacial trauma. This study was based on a series of 917 patients were treated as in-patients, at Chon-buk National University Hospital, during the period of Jan., 1989 through Dec., 1993. The results obtained were as follows : 1. The ratio of men to women were 3.59 : 1 in oral and maxillofacial injuries, 3.92 : 1 in facial bone fractures, and 3.18 : 1 in soft tissue injuries. 2. The oral and maxillofacial injuries occurred most frequently in the third decade(32.2%), and fourth, second, fifth decade in orders. 3. The major etiologic factors were traffic accident(57.4%) and fall-down(17.1%), interpersonal accident(16.6%), and industrial accident were next in order of frequency. 4. The incidence of facial bone fracture was 72.1%, soft tissue injury 58.8%, and dental injury 40.5%. 5. The most common site of fracture were mandible(62.9%) and maxilla(19.9%), zygoma and zygomatic arch(18.7%), and nasal bone(4.7%) were next in order of frequency. 6. The most common type of soft tissue injury was laceration(51.0%). The lesion of soft tissue injuries were mostly 1 or 2 lesions and deep.