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Soft tissue pediatric facial trauma: a review
Nicholas J V Hogg1, Bruce B Horswell
1Department of Surgery, Charleston Area Medical Center, Charleston, West Virginia 25302, USA. n_hogg@yahoo.com
Insights
Pediatric facial soft tissue injuries require prompt diagnosis and care to prevent scarring. Effective wound management is key for optimal healing in children, with dentists playing a role in assessment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric trauma surgery
- Wound healing and scar management
Background:
- Facial soft tissue injuries are frequent in pediatric trauma.
- Injuries include facial nerve damage, parotid gland trauma, animal bites, avulsive wounds, and lacerations of the eyelids and ears.
- Children's rapid healing capacity increases the risk of hypertrophic scarring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of pediatric facial soft tissue injuries.
- To emphasize the critical role of postoperative wound care in minimizing adverse scar formation.
- To inform dentists about managing pediatric soft tissue trauma and postoperative care.
Main Methods:
- Review of common pediatric facial soft tissue injuries.
- Discussion of diagnostic and treatment principles.
- Emphasis on wound management strategies for scar prevention.
Main Results:
- Early and definitive treatment is crucial for pediatric facial soft tissue injuries.
- Proper wound management significantly reduces the risk of unfavorable scarring.
- Dentists can contribute to the initial assessment and postoperative care of these patients.
Conclusions:
- Comprehensive management, including prompt diagnosis, surgical intervention, and meticulous wound care, is essential for pediatric facial soft tissue injuries.
- Minimizing scarring in pediatric patients requires careful attention during the healing process.
- Educating dentists on soft tissue trauma management benefits pediatric patient outcomes.
Abstract:
Facial soft tissue injuries are common in pediatric trauma patients. Early diagnosis and definitive treatment as well as good postoperative wound care are important when dealing with soft tissue injuries, such as facial nerve and parotid injuries, animal bites, avulsive skin wounds and eyelid and ear lacerations. Children heal quickly, but they also tend to develop hypertrophic scars. Proper wound management during the healing period can help to minimize the risk of adverse scar formation. Dentists may be involved in the initial assessment of these patients. Knowledge of the diagnosis and management of soft tissue trauma is useful when dealing with pediatric patients and their parents postoperatively.
