Facial Fractures

The Department will periodically contact patients waiting for an outpatient clinic appointment via SMS, with a link to an electronic form.  This is part of routine waitlist auditing to ensure patient details are up to date.  If you receive this SMS, please update your details.

Availability

North South North West Statewide

Pre-referral work-up

History

Presentation depends on site of fracture:

  • Mandible: swelling, trismus, malocclusion, gingival lacerations, loose/fractured teeth
  • Zygoma: cheek, periorbital swelling, malar deformity, subconjunctival haemorrhage, facial paraesthesia, trismus
  • Upper and midface: swelling, bruising, malocclusion, epistaxis
  • Orbital floor or wall (blow out fracture)

All referrals should comply to referral standards and include in particular:

  • Mechanism of injury including time since
  • Assess vision and record

Tests

  • OPG
  • If mandible # suspected: PA Mandible and Reverse Townes X-ray
  • For other fractures: CT scan

Interim/GP management

To refer a patient with this condition, please see the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery clinic page for the full referral process and templates.

Consider Ophthalmology referral if eye injury suspected.

Supportive measures.

Advise no nose blowing.

For more information please see the Tasmanian Health Pathways website.

Emergency

Airway obstruction

Urgent / category 1

Excess bleeding

Suspected ocular entrapment

Red flags are clinical indicators of possible serious underlying conditions requiring further medical intervention. They may or may not indicate an emergency.

Emergency:

Proceed to Emergency Department (ED).
LGH ED Reception  – Phone: (03) 6777 6405  Fax: (03) 6777 5201
MCH ED* – Phone: (03) 6478 5120  Fax: (03) 6441 5923
NWRH ED* – Phone: (03) 6493 6351 Fax: (03) 6464 1926
RHH ED Reception – Phone: (03) 6166 6100  Fax: (03) 6173 0489

Advice for medical practitioners can be given by the Medical Officer In Charge (MOIC) - see HealthPathways Tasmania for contact information.
*MCH and NWRH MOICs request GPs call them prior to referring a patient to ensure the patient is being sent appropriately to a safe destination.

Urgent:

Urgent referrals should be accompanied by a phone call to the Consultant/Registrar to organise urgent review and the referral must be faxed.

We will endeavour to see these patients within four weeks, or sooner if clinically indicated.

Semi-urgent:

We will endeavour to see these patients within 12 weeks

Routine:

Next available appointment