Two late complications of craniofacial trauma: case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Injuries after blunt and penetrating trauma to the face are a common occurrence and are managed by specialists from several disciplines. After short-term care and immediate recovery, long-term complications can develop including cosmetic deformity, unsightly scarring, problems with soft tissue healing, malunion or nonunion of bony segments, diplopia or other visual complaints, malocclusion, hardware failure, and mucocele formation. Here, we present a report of 2 late complications recognized and treated in a patient 40 years after an episode of craniofacial trauma: epistaxis with symptomatic nasal congestion from fixation wires and mucocele formation. Management of this patient accompanied by endoscopic photographs and computed tomographic images is presented, and discussion of these complications along with review of the literature is provided.