ABSTRACT
Facial injuries are among the most common emergencies seen in an acute care setting. They range from simple soft tissue lacerations to complex facial fractures associated with significant craniomaxillofacial injuries with soft tissue loss. Traditional management of facial lacerations includes closure of the skin with a nonabsorbable suture, citing the low tissue reactivity that minimizes scar formation and the high tensile strength preventing dehiscence. Facial injuries, in particular facial fractures, have long been noted to be associated with concomitant head and cerebral injuries. A retrospective review of trauma in motorcycle riders found the odds of traumatic brain injury (TBI) were 3.5 times greater with a facial injury than without a facial injury and 6.5 times greater with a facial fracture than without a facial fracture. Antibiotics are used widely in surgery and the management of facial injuries.
