Facial Injuries

Emergencies

Yes	Do you have any of the following symptoms that require emergency treatment? Call 911 or other emergency services immediately.

• Breathing stops for longer than 30 seconds. After calling 911 or other emergency services, see the topic Dealing With Emergencies.
• Unconsciousness
• Signs of moderate to severe difficulty breathing:
  • In a child
  • In an adult and older child
• Gunshot or stab wound
• Signs of shock:
  • In a child
  • In an adult and older child
• Signs of a serious head injury
• Signs of a spinal injury
• Severe bleeding does not slow during the first 15 minutes of steady direct pressure.
• Seizure
• Sudden partial or complete vision loss in one or both eyes. Note: Treatment is needed within 90 minutes to save vision.
• Sudden facial paralysis

Check Your Symptoms

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

If you have any of the following symptoms, evaluate those symptoms first.

• A head injury: Go to the topic Head Injury, Age 4 and Older or Head Injury, Age 3 and Younger.
• Eye injury: Go to the topic Eye Injuries.
• Nose injury: Go to the topic Nose Injuries.
• A mouth or dental injury: Go to the topic Mouth and Dental Injuries.

Yes	Do you have any difficulty breathing, talking, or swallowing?
Yes	Do you have a cut or puncture wound on your face?
Yes	Does your face look misshapen or swollen after an injury?
Yes	Have you had a jaw injury?
Yes	Do you have facial pain?
Yes	Do you have bruising or discoloration behind your ears, around your eyes, or under your tongue?
Yes	Do you think that a facial injury may have been caused by abuse?
Yes	Do you think you have an infection after a facial injury?
Yes	Do you have facial numbness or tingling after an injury?
Yes	Do you know or think you need a tetanus shot?

Other Symptoms to Watch For

Do you have any of the following symptoms?

• Facial symptoms without an injury: Go to the topic Facial Problems, Noninjury.
• Neck pain: Go to the topic Neck Pain.
• An ear injury: Go to the topic Ear Problems and Injuries, Age 11 and Younger or Ear Problems and Injuries, Age 12 and Older.
• A cut, puncture, scrape, burn, or bite to the face: Go to the topics Cuts, Puncture Wounds, Scrapes, Burns, or Animal and Human Bites.

If a visit to a health professional is not needed immediately, see the Home Treatment section for self-care information.

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: May 15, 2007
Medical Review:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
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