What is a Craniofacial Fracture?
Craniofacial fracture may result from severe head trauma.
Depending on the extent of your fracture and other injuries obtained in the traumatic event, you may need care from many different specialists.
Common craniofacial fractures
The most common craniofacial fractures, ordered by frequency, are:
- Nasal bone
- Cranial bone
- Mandible (lower jaw)
- Zygoma (cheekbone)
- Orbital bones (around the eye)
- Maxilla (upper jaw)
Complications from craniofacial fractures
Several craniofacial fracture complications may require neurosurgical treatment:
- A dislodged bone in the skull may compress the optic nerve, resulting in visual disturbances.
- A cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak as a result of the fractured bone causing a tear in the dura, which is the protective membrane surrounding the brain.
Depending on the location, optic nerve compression and CSF leaks can be treated with the Endoscopic Endonasal Approach (EEA). This innovative, minimally invasive technique uses the nose and nasal cavities as natural corridors to access hard-to-reach areas or previously inoperable tumors.
The benefits of EEA include:
- No incisions to heal
- No disfigurement to the patient
- Faster recovery time