Pediatric facial fractures

Abstract

Key Points: Falls, motor vehicle accidents, and sports-related activities are the leading causes of facial trauma in children. Children below 6 years of age suffer more orbital roof and skull fractures than facial fractures due to proportionally larger cranial volume. Nasal and dentoalveolar fractures are the most common facial fractures in children. Nasal septal hematoma need to be detected early and drained promptly to avoid complications. Mandible fractures are the most common facial fractures treated in the hospital setting. Intermaxillary fixation is limited to 2-3 weeks and is followed by 6-8 weeks of using guiding elastic bands. It is often necessary to overcorrect nasoethmoid fracture-induced telecanthus to obtain long-term satisfactory results. Rib or calvarial bone grafts are preferred over alloplastic materials in the reconstruction of pediatric bony defects. © 2009 Humana Press.