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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.
The most common craniofacial fractures, ordered by frequency, are:
Several craniofacial fracture complications may require neurosurgical treatment:
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:
Symptoms of craniofacial fractures include:
Craniofacial fractures occur as the result of severe head trauma. Doctors diagnose craniofacial fractures through imaging studies, such as:
Doctors may also perform neurological exams or exams of the ear or nose to check for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks.
At UPMC, we take a 360° approach to treating craniofacial fractures — looking at your condition from every direction — to find the path that is least disruptive to your brain, critical nerves, and ability to return to normal functioning.
When appropriate, UPMC surgeons will use the Endoscopic Endonasal Approach (EEA) to repair CSF leaks of the skull base or to decompress the optic nerve.
EEA allows surgeons to see and correct the injury without making an open incision. The procedure is performed through the nose and nasal cavities, and recovery time is faster than with a traditional approach.
Our neurosurgical team may recommend a combination of surgical and non-surgical approaches to maximize the benefits of surgery while minimizing risks.
