Facial Fractures

This condition is treated in the Oral and Maxillofacial surgery clinic.

Pre-referral work-up

History

Presentation depends on site of fracture:

• Mandible: swelling, trismus, malocclusion, gingival lacerations, loose/fractured teeth
• Zygoma: cheek, periorbital swelling, malar deformity, subconjunctival haemorrhage, facial paraesthesia, trismus
• Upper and midface: swelling, bruising, malocclusion, epistaxis
• Orbital floor or wall (blow out fracture)

All referrals should comply to the Referral Standards and include in particular:

• Mechanism of injury including time since
• Assess vision and record

Tests

• OPG
• If mandible # suspected: PA Mandible and Reverse Townes X-ray
• For other fractures: CT scan

Interim/GP management

To refer a patient with this condition, please see the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery clinic page for the full referral process and templates.

Consider Ophthalmology referral if eye injury suspected.

Supportive measures.

Advise no nose blowing.

For more information please see the HealthPathways Tasmania website.

Clinic appointments

🚩 Red location flags are clinical indicators of possible serious underlying conditions requiring further medical intervention. They may or may not indicate an emergency.

Emergency

🚩 Airway obstruction

If you, or someone else, are experiencing a serious and life-threatening injury or illness call triple zero (000) immediately or go to the nearest Emergency Department.

Learn more about when to access emergency care and non-emergency care options if the injury or illness is not serious or life-threatening.

Urgent (Category 1)

🚩 Excess bleeding

🚩 Suspected ocular entrapment

Urgent referrals should be accompanied by a phone call to the Consultant/Registrar to organise urgent review and the referral must be faxed.

We will endeavour to see these patients within four weeks, or sooner if clinically indicated.

Availability

North

Launceston General Hospital (Level 3)
Phone:  1300 977 694
Fax: 03 6777 5214

North West

Unavailable.

South

Wellington Clinics
Phone: 03 6166 0000
Fax: 03 6234 9454