Maxillofacial Trauma Health Article

Alternative treatments

Fractures, burns, and deep lacerations require treatment by a doctor but alternative treatments can help the body withstand injury and assist the healing process. Calcium, minerals, vitamins, all part of a balanced and nutrient-rich diet, as well as regular exercise, build strong bones that can withstand force well. After an injury, craniosacral therapy may help healing and ease the headaches that follow a concussion or other head trauma. A physical therapist can offer ultrasound that raises temperature to ease pain, or biofeedback in which the patient learns how to tense and relax muscles to relieve pain. Hydrotherapy may ease the stress of recovering from trauma. Chinese medicine seeks to reconnect the chi along the body's meridians and thus aid healing. Homeopathic physicians may prescribe natural medicines such as Arnica or Symphytum to enhance healing.

Prognosis

When appropriate treatment is obtained quickly after an injury, the prognosis can be excellent. However, if the victim of trauma has osteoporosis or a debilitating chronic disease, healing is more problematic. Healing also depends upon the extent of the injury. An automobile accident or a gunshot wound, for example, can cause severe facial trauma that may require multiple surgical procedures and a considerable amount of time to heal. Burns and lacerations cause scarring that might be improved by plastic surgery.

Prevention

Safety equipment is vital to preventing maxillofacial trauma from automobile accidents and sports. Here is a partial list of equipment people should always use:

• seatbelts
• automobile air bags
• approved child safety seats
• helmets for riding motorcycles or bicycles, skateboarding, snowboarding, and other sports
• safety glasses for the job, yard work, sports
• other approved safety equipment for sports such as mouthguards, masks, and goggles

PERIODICALS

Roberts, Graham. "Dental Emergencies (ABC of Oral Health)." British Medical Journal (September 2, 2000).

Perkins, Stephen W. "The Incidence of Sports-Related Facial Trauma in Children." Ear, Nose and Throat Journal (August 2000).

ORGANIZATIONS

Brain Injury Association, Inc. 105 N. Alfred St., Alexandria, VA 22314. (703) 236-6000. <http://www.biausa.org.>.

American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons. 9700 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Rosemont, IL 60018. (847) 678-6200.

OTHER

"Broken Nose." <http://www.intelihealth.com>.

"Burns: Take Them Seriously." Virtual Hospital. <http://www.vh.org/Patients/IHB/HealthProse/Familymedicine/burns.html>.

"Fractured Jaw." <http://www.cbshealthwatch.com/cx/viewarticle/150454>.

"Major Domains of Complementary & Alternative Medicine." National Institutes of Health. <http://nccam.nih.gov/fcp/classify/>.

Barbara J. Mitchell

KEY TERMS

Corneal abrasion—A scratch on the surface of the eyeball.

Mandible—The lower jaw, a U-shaped bone attached to the skull at the temporomandibular joints.

Maxilla—The bone of the upper jaw which serves as a foundation of the face and supports the orbits.

Orbit—The eye socket which contains the eyeball, muscles, nerves, and blood vessels that serve the eye.

Otolaryngologist—Ear, nose and throat specialist.

Shock—A reduction of blood flow in the body caused by loss of blood and/or fluids. Can be fatal if not treated quickly.

Temporomandibular joint—The mandible attaches to the temporal bone of the skull and works like a hinge.

Temporomandibular joint syndrome—TMJ Syndrome refers to an incorrect alignment of the lower jaw to the skull which causes the bite to be off line. It causes chronic headaches, nausea, and other symtoms.

Nasal septum—The cartilage which divides the nose in half.

Vermilion border—The line between the lip and the skin.