ABSTRACT
This will allow the trauma team to assess and carry out the initial management of severe injuries to the face and jaws in the first two hours after injury.
8.1 Introduction
Following the introduction of seat belt legislation, interpersonal violence has overtaken road traffic accidents as the most common cause of facial injuries in the United Kingdom. Home Office data demonstrates that interpersonal violence more than doubled between 1974 and 1990, and continues to increase. Where facial injuries result from violent crime, 50% of the victims have raised blood alcohol levels, and this may complicate the pre-hospital and early hospital care. One study has demonstrated that in assault cases resulting in fractures, 83% involved the facial skeleton. Isolated fractures of the mandible, nose or zygoma are most common in this situation.
