Traumatology

Traumatology encompasses the diagnosis and treatment of injuries in the mouth/jaw/face area. These can consist of injuries to the soft tissue and/or the bone. This type of injury is often caused by work, sport, traffic or household accidents. Our goal is the functional and aesthetic restoration of the patients.

Soft tissue injuries

Soft tissue injuries of the skin and oral mucosa in the head and throat area are carefully reconstructed to achieve the best possible functional and aesthetic result. When injuries are very extensive, it may be necessary to repair sensitive facial nerves, excretory ducts of the saliva glands, eyelids and tear ducts.

Bone injuries 

Injuries to the craniofacial bones can range from a loose tooth to several breaks of the entire craniofacial bone. A surgery is usually required in most cases. If the individual bone fragments heal in the wrong position, the following symptoms may occur:

• Impaired chewing function
• Obstructions when opening the mouth
• Vision disturbances
• Limitations of external appearance

Operating on bone breaks

When we operate on broken bones, we make sure to bring the individual bone fragments back to their correct anatomical position by using mini plates and screws. After four to six months, these can be removed. The mini plates are usually made of titanium, a very well tolerated and bio-compatible material. In suitable cases, plates made of absorbable materials are used. This means that the material dissolves on its own and does not have to be surgically removed. To prevent visible scarring, surgery scars are placed in hidden areas such as the oral cavity, the skin above the hairline, the eyebrows, a crease in the skin or in the corner of the eyelid. 

Tooth loss

If teeth are knocked out of the jaw bone, they can be replanted and re-stabilised by means of a splint over several days to weeks, depending on the extent of the injury. If teeth are lost despite efforts to save them, it is possible to fill the resulting gap with a dental implant.

Multiple injuries (polytrauma)

In the event of multiple injuries, interdisciplinary treatment is provided to the patient. In such a case, we work closely with the departments for trauma surgery, otorhinolaryngology, neurosurgery and ophthalmology. If a break should heal in the wrong position, we recommend a plastic restoration after six to nine months. This patient is individually supported as an inpatient in our ward until completion and later treated on an outpatient basis in the polyclinic.