Jaw Fracture In Adults

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

A jaw fracture (frak-shur) is a break in the jawbone. The jawbone is made up of the upper and lower jawbone. A break may occur in either or both of these bones. You may have broken your jawbone from an injury or an accident. Swelling, pain, bruising, or bleeding in the jawbone are signs of a fractured jawbone. You may have pain in front of your ear or trouble opening your mouth. It may take weeks or months for the jawbone to heal.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

Without treatment, you may have trouble eating or opening your mouth. Call your caregiver if you are worried or have questions about your medicine or care.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

• Gown: A hospital gown is needed so that your caregivers can easily check and treat you. Put your gown on so that it opens in the back. When you feel better you may be able to wear your own gown or pajamas.
  
  
• Call Button: You can use a call button when you need your caregiver. Pain or wanting to get out of bed are good reasons to call.
  
  
• Vital Signs: This includes taking your temperature, blood pressure, pulse (counting your heartbeat), and respirations (counting your breaths). To take your blood pressure, a cuff is put on your arm and tightened. The cuff is attached to a machine which will give your blood pressure reading. Caregivers may listen to your heart and lungs by using a stethoscope (steth-uh-skop). Your vital signs may be taken so caregivers can see how you are doing.
  
  
• Pulse oximeter: A pulse oximeter is a machine that tells how much oxygen is in your blood. A cord with a clip or sticky strip is placed on your ear, finger, or toe. The other end of the cord is hooked to a machine. Caregivers use this machine to see if you need more oxygen.
  
  
• IV: An IV is a tube placed in your vein for giving medicine or liquids. This tube will be capped or connected to tubing and liquid.
  
  
• Jaw X-ray: You may need more than one x-ray of your jaw while in the hospital. This will help caregivers see how your jaw is healing.
  
  
• Jaw Wiring/Banding: A wire or rubber bands may be used to hold your jaw in place and keep it from moving. This will help the bones heal the right way.
  
  
• Mouth Cleaning: You will need to clean your mouth 4 to 6 times a day. Caregivers will show you how to do this. Cleaning your mouth will remove pieces of food and clean your teeth. A water pik or a child-sized soft tooth brush will work well to clean your mouth.
  
  
• Eating/Drinking: You may need to use a straw to drink if your jaw is wired or banded or sore. Liquids may be the only thing that you can swallow. You may not be able to eat foods that need to be chewed.
  
  
• Ice: You may use ice to lessen pain or swelling. Ice is best started right after an injury or surgery and up to 24 to 48 hours afterwards. Put the ice in a plastic bag and cover it with a towel. Place this over the surgery area for 15 to 20 minutes out of every hour as long as you need it. Do not sleep on the ice pack because you could get frostbite.
  
  
• Medicines:
  
  
  • Pain Medicine: Caregivers may give you medicine to lessen your pain. This medicine may be given in your IV, as a shot, or by mouth. Tell caregivers if the pain does not go away or comes back.
    
    
  • Antinausea medicine: This medicine may be given to calm your stomach and control vomiting (throwing up). Pain medicine may upset your stomach and make you feel like vomiting. Because of this, pain medicine and anti-nausea medicine are often given at the same time.
    
    
  • Antibiotics(an-ti-bi-ah-tiks): This medicine may be given to help you fight infection caused by a germ called bacteria (bak-teer-e-uh). Antibiotics be given by IV, as a shot, or by mouth.
    
    
  • Tetanus shot: This is medicine to keep you from getting tetanus. It is given as a shot. You should have a tetanus shot if you have not had one in the past 5 to 10 years. Your arm can get red, swollen, and sore after getting this shot.
  
  
• Surgery: You may need to have surgery if you have a bad break in your jaw.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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