CASE REPORT: COMPLEX CRANIOFACIAL TRAUMA DUE TO KNIFE INJURIES - SURGICAL MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOMES

This case report of a 63-year-old man who suffered multiple lacerations which made cranial nerve VII (CN VII) branches damaged creating a lack of function of the frontal elevation and middle and lower face asymmetry, fractures of the zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) and mandibular ramus create malocclusion and sunken malar, and nearly amputated earlobe on the left side of the face after a knife attack. The patient was diagnosed with: Complex wound on the left side of the face, fracture of the zygomaticomaxillary complex and left mandible ramus; damage to the left peripheral VII cranial nerve; partial amputated of the left earlobe due to a knife attack at the 5th hour. The patient was treated with a multidisciplinary surgical intervention including open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with titan plates, microsurgical nerve repair, and multi-layered soft tissue reconstruction of the ear and facial wounds. After incident three months, he showed partial recovery in frontal elevation, symmetry of the middle and lower face, partial scar fading, and stable occlusion with proper bone healing.