The EM Educator Series: Maxillofacial Trauma

Author: Alex Koyfman, MD (@EMHighAK) // Reviewed by: Brit Long, MD (@long_brit) and Manpreet Singh, MD (@MprizzleER)

Welcome back to the EM Educator Series. These posts provide brief mini-cases followed by key questions to consider while working. The featured questions provide important learning points for those working with you, as well as vital items to consider in the evaluation and management of the specific condition discussed.

This week has another downloadable PDF document with questions, links and answers you can share with learners as educators in #MedEd. Please message us over Twitter and let us know if you have any feedback on ways to improve this for you. Enjoy!


Case 1:

A 30-year-old male presents after an MMA fight with nasal and a left year injury.

Case 2:

A 25-year-old female presents to the ED after a physical assault at home. She has bruising of the head and neck.

Case 3: 

A 46-year-old male is brought in by EMS after a high-speed MVC with epistaxis and facial deformity.

 

Considerations:

  • What is the initial approach to evaluating the patient with significant facial injury? What is necessary when evaluating the need for airway intervention?
  • What should be considered with facial bony injuries?
  • What should be considered with ocular injuries?
  • What should be considered with nasal injuries?
  • What should be considered with ear injuries?
  • What should be considered with mandible / tooth injuries?
  • Who needs a maxillofacial CT?
  • Which patient should be evaluated by the facial specialist in the ED?
  • What suggests intimate partner violence, elder abuse, or non-accidental trauma in the pediatric patient?

 

From Dr. Katy Hanson at Hanson’s Anatomy:

Suggested Resources:

 

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