30 surgeons get training in facial bone fracture fixation

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 24

An advanced Cranio Maxillary Fractures Fixation workshop was organised wherein 30 select plastic and reconstructive surgeons from J&K, Haryana, Punjab and Delhi were trained in advanced techniques of facial bone fracture fixation on skull models.

Dr Ashwani Chaudhary, Medical Superintendent, DMC and Hospital, and a neurosurgeon, inaugurated the workshop.

Speaking on the occasion, he said, "In developed countries, the leading causes of facial trauma and associated head injury are motor vehicle accidents. Thus preventive efforts should include awareness campaigns to educate the public about safety measures such as seat belts and helmets, and strict enforcement of laws to prevent drunk and unsafe driving."

Dr Sanjeev Uppal, course director and head of plastic and reconstructive surgery, DMCH, said, "Facial trauma, also called maxillofacial trauma, is any physical trauma to the face. It can involve soft tissue injuries such as burns, lacerations and bruises, or fractures of the facial bones such as nasal fractures and fractures of the jaw, as well as trauma such as eye injuries. Symptoms are specific to the type of injury; for example, fractures may involve pain, swelling, loss of function or changes in the shape of facial structures."

Other faculty members who delivered talks included Dr Jayanthi Mala, Dr Rajinder Mittal, Dr Ramneesh Garg and Dr Sheerin Shah. There were seven didactic lectures and two sessions of hands on workshop. Group discussions followed after the workshop.

"Facial injuries have the potential to cause disfigurement and loss of function, including blindness or difficulty moving the jaw. Though it is seldom life-threatening, facial trauma can also be deadly, because it can cause severe bleeding or interference with the airway; thus a primary concern in treatment is ensuring that the airway is open and not threatened so that the patient can breathe. Depending on the type of facial injury, initial treatment may include bandaging and suturing of open wounds, antibiotics and pain killers. Followed by this, the fractured and displaced bones are reduced back into place and fixed with plates and screws. When fractures are suspected, Xrays, OPG and CT scans are used for diagnosis. Treatment aims to repair the face's natural bony architecture and to leave as little apparent trace of injury as possible," said Dr Uppal.