Facial Fracture (cont.)

Least Effective Exercises Slideshow

Medical Author:

Denise S Lawe, MD

Coauthor:

Michelle S Nathan, MD

Medical Editor:

Scott H Plantz, MD, FAAEM

Medical Editor:

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD

Medical Editor:

James S Cohen, MD

Facial Fracture Symptoms

Although certain symptoms are specific for the bone fractured, some symptoms are common to any fractured bone. But remember that these symptoms may indicate a soft tissue injury (without a broken bone).
- Pain
- Swelling
- Bruising
Broken nose
- Symptoms
  - Swelling
  - Tenderness
  - Deformity
  - Nosebleed (if present, is usually minor)
- Significant trauma to the bridge of the nose may result in a fracture of the bones inside your nose (ethmoid bones).
  - These bones, if fractured, may cause the brain to connect with the outside environment.
  - Possible symptoms include persistent nosebleed or a clear nasal discharge.
Broken jaw
- Symptoms
  - Jaw pain
  - Tenderness
  - Inability to bring the teeth together properly (malocclusion)
- Bruising under the tongue almost always indicates a jaw fracture.
Midface (maxillary) fracture
- Symptoms (if conscious)
  - Inability to bring the teeth together properly
  - Visual problems
  - Clear nasal discharge
- Bruising may be present around the eyes and the midface may be able to be moved.
- These fractures are not usually subtle and are often the result of high-speed car accidents. As a result, there might be severe injury to areas other than the face.
- Many of these people will have difficulty breathing and require a tube to be placed down their throat to help them breathe.
Cheekbone (zygomatic) fracture
- Symptoms
  - Flatness of the cheek
  - Altered sensation underneath the eye on the affected side
  - Visual complaints
  - Pain with jaw movement
- Blood in the side of the eye on the affected side sometimes is present.
Eye socket (orbital) fracture
- Symptoms
  - Sunken eye (enophthalmos)
  - Altered sensation beneath the affected eye
  - Double vision, particularly with upward gaze
- This fracture involves the bones of the eye socket.
- Injury usually occurs when a blunt object hits the eye such as a fist or a ball.
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dislocation
- Symptoms
  - Jaw deviation
  - Inability to close the mouth
- Dislocation of the TMJ (the joint where your jaw meets with the temporal bone, right in front of your ear) can occur with blunt trauma, seizures, or excessive mouth opening.