Our experience with oral and maxillofacial soft tissue injuries at Mbeya zonal referral hospital: A report of two cases and literature review.

INTRODUCTION

Maxillofacial injuries pose significant challenges due to their impact on both function and aesthetics, with early and appropriate care the patients have good outcomes.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present two cases of severe facial trauma successfully managed at Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital. The first case involved a patient with multiple lacerations and soft tissue injuries following a road traffic accident, which was managed with meticulous wound debridement and layered closure, leading to excellent healing. The second case was a 23-year-old male with a large avulsed facial wound sustained in a high-impact motorcycle collision. Timely surgical intervention, including thorough debridement, hemostasis, and structured wound closure, resulted in remarkable esthetic and functional recovery.

DISCUSSION

In the management of oral and maxillofacial trauma, both esthetic restoration and functional rehabilitation are critical goals. Although the optimal wound closure time is within 4-6 h post-injury, our case demonstrated excellent healing despite a 10-h delay. Effective management involved thorough wound decontamination, conservative debridement, and irrigation with antiseptic solutions to prevent infection. Surgical closure followed esthetic and functional principles, ensuring proper alignment of facial structures without complications such as parotid duct or facial nerve injury.

CONCLUSION

Both cases highlight the importance of timely intervention, meticulous surgical technique, and comprehensive postoperative care in achieving favorable outcomes for maxillofacial trauma patients.