Your Care Instructions

A facial fracture in a child is when your child has broken (fractured) one or more bones in his or her face. Swelling and bruising from the injury are likely to get worse over the first couple of days. After that, the swelling should steadily improve until it is gone. If your child has bruises on the face, they may change as they heal. The skin may turn from black and blue to green to yellow or brown before it returns to its normal colour.

It is very important that your child gets follow-up care as directed so that the injury heals properly and does not lead to problems. The kind of care and treatment your child needs depends on the specific type of break (or breaks) your child has.

Healthy habits can help your child heal. Give your child a variety of healthy foods. And don't smoke around him or her.

How can you care for your child at home?

• Put ice or a cold pack on your child's injury for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Try to do this every 1 to 2 hours for the next 3 days (when your child is awake) or until the swelling goes down. Put a thin cloth between the ice pack and the skin.
• Bring your child to all follow-up appointments with your doctor. Your doctor will determine whether your child needs further treatment, including surgery.
• Have your child take medicines exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor or nurse advice line if you think your child is having a problem with his or her medicine. You will get more details on the specific medicines your doctor prescribes.
• If the doctor prescribed antibiotics for your child, give them as directed. Do not stop using them just because your child feels better. Your child needs to take the full course of antibiotics.
• Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
  • If the doctor gave your child a prescription medicine for pain, give it as prescribed.
  • If your child is not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if your child can take an over-the-counter medicine.
• Do not give a child two or more pain medicines at the same time unless the doctor told you to. Many pain medicines have acetaminophen, which is Tylenol. Too much acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be harmful.
• Keep your child's head raised when he or she sleeps.
• Give your child soft food to decrease jaw pain.
• Your child should not blow his or her nose. Dab it with a tissue if you need to.