Introduction
Dr. Spalla is dual board certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery and through this extensive training has experience in managing some of the most challenging cases in facial trauma.
Facial trauma can be very complex, as you can well-imagine. When faced with such situations, you want an experienced surgeon. You want a surgeon who not only considers the function of your face, but the form as well. Dr. Spalla will take the utmost care of you and your loved ones in these trying times. He will work with you, and other treating physicians, to come up with a plan that works best for your unique situation. Patients who have trauma to the face often have injuries to other parts of their body at the same time, and these other injuries are often more pressing in nature (i.e., urgent). Dr. Spalla will coordinate your care with your other treating physicians, as necessary.
Injuries to the face can be thought of as bony, soft tissue, or a combination of both. Each of these situations creates unique challenges, and fortunately Dr. Spalla has faced such cases having worked at Level One trauma institutions for a decade.
Bony Trauma
Most bony trauma to the face is not a true emergency in terms of requiring immediate surgery. You may be surprised to find out that many facial fractures don’t require repair/intervention. In the following sections, we will briefly discuss what you might expect from these fractures.
Nasal Fractures
Nasal fractures are very common and can occur from a variety of reasons. If your nose is fractured, you can expect pain and swelling, and oftentimes, bleeding. Common indications for intervention include a change in appearance of the nose (beyond just swelling), instability of the nose, a change in the shape of the nasal septum (the wall which divides the nose into a left and right chamber), or an open fracture (through the skin). Dr. Spalla has treated numerous patients with these issues and will come up with a plan to give you the best possible outcome in terms of form and function.
Cheek Fractures
These fractures are very common as well and often occur after a fall or altercation. If there is significant displacement (shift of the bones), then stabilization may be required. In such situations, Dr. Spalla may need to put small plates and screws to secure the fractures into proper position. If this is needed, he will do his best to keep those incisions as inconspicuous as possible.
Mandible Fractures
Mandible fractures commonly occur after significant trauma to the lower 1/3 of one’s face. Unlikely the other fractures mentioned so far, these fractures almost always require some form of intervention. This can range from “wiring the jaw shut” to the use of plates and screws. You’ll be fortunate to be cared for at Philadelphia Facial Plastic Surgery & Medspa, because Philadelphia Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery practices within the same office space. This affords the unique opportunity to be cared for by Dr. Cyndi Nguyen, a board certified Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon, if necessary. Dr. Nguyen has years of experience in this realm and her outcomes are outstanding.
Orbital Fractures
Unfortunately, patients may suffer trauma to the eye or the bones around the eyes. These situations, as you can imagine, are quite delicate given how important our eyes are to our daily lives. Dr. Spalla has years of experience treating patients with fractures around the eyes. These situations are often best treated in conjunction with a consultation from an ophthalmologist – a surgical specialist adept at evaluating the eye itself. So, don’t be surprised if you’re asked to see one in concert with Dr. Spalla. We only want the best for you, and Dr. Spalla never hesitates to enlist the help of our healthcare providers to give you the best outcomes.
Temporal Bone Fractures
While these aren’t truly “facial” fractures, these skull fractures often occur along with extensive facial trauma. Given Dr. Spalla’s background in otolaryngology, he has treated hundreds of patients with this injury and can expertly manage your care should you find yourself in this situation.
