Management of Oro-Facial Trauma

Question 1

What is the ABCDE approach?

Answer 1

A = airway - check for any obstruction

B = breathing - check if the patient is breath

C = circulation

D = disability

E = exposure

Question 2

How do we assess the ability of a patient?

Answer 2

EYES
- spontaneous opening? - open to voice? - open to pain? - closed

MOTOR
- obeys commands? - localises pain? - abnormal flexion? - no motor response

VOICE
- orientated
- confused
- disjointed words
- incomprehensible sounds
- no verbal response

Question 3

What is the initial assessment for oral and maxillofacial trauma?

Answer 3

• Mechanism of injury, time of injury, head injury (nausea, vomiting, headache)
• Did the patient go unconscious?
• Any witnesses?
• Is patient under drugs or alcohol?

Question 4

What is important to assess when looking at eyes after an injury?

Answer 4

• Pupils (equal and reactive to light)
• Visual acuity
• Range of movement
• Any diplopia?
• Subconjunctival haemorrhage
• Swelling
• Retrobulbar haemorrhage

Question 5

What is important to assess dentally?

Answer 5

• Opening of mouth
• Dental trauma
• Teeth fragments embedded in soft tissue
• Bleeding
• Sublingual haematoma (in mandibular fracture)