After a facial injury, open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) realigns the broken bones of the jaw, cheekbone or eye socket and fixes them with titanium plates and screws — restoring your bite, facial shape and function, with incisions hidden inside the mouth or in natural creases where possible.
Have You Sustained a Facial Injury and Need Expert Reconstruction?
Experiencing a facial injury can be deeply unsettling, affecting not only how you look but also vital daily functions like chewing, speaking, and breathing. When bones in the face are fractured due to an accident, sports injury, or fall, they require precise realignment to heal correctly. Our practice focuses on restoring your natural facial structure and function with compassionate, expert care.
For complex facial injuries, we perform open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). This specialized oral & maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) technique involves physically realigning the broken bones through surgical access and securing them with biocompatible titanium plates and screws. This approach ensures your facial bones heal in their correct anatomical positions, preventing long-term complications.
Types of Facial Fractures We Treat
Facial trauma can affect several different bones, each requiring a tailored approach to preserve both appearance and function. Whether you have a localized jaw injury or multiple bone fractures, understanding the specific area affected helps us plan the most effective treatment. Injuries near the jaw joint can also affect movement and may need TMJ surgery if the joint is damaged.
Mandible Fractures: A broken lower jaw that directly impacts your bite, chewing ability, and airway safety, requiring precise realignment.
Maxilla Fractures: Fractures of the upper jaw bone that can affect the midface stability, sinus function, and the alignment of your upper teeth.
Zygomatic Fractures: Broken cheekbones that can cause facial asymmetry, limited jaw movement, and numbness in the cheek or upper lip.
Orbital Fractures: Fractures of the delicate bones surrounding the eye socket, which can cause double vision or changes in eye position if left untreated.
How We Plan Your Jaw Fracture Treatment
Before undergoing any surgical procedure, a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation is essential to map out the exact location and severity of the bone breaks. We use advanced imaging technologies to create a detailed three-dimensional view of your facial skeleton, allowing us to plan the surgery with extreme precision.
During your initial consultation, we will assess your facial symmetry, eye movements, dental occlusion (how your teeth fit together), and nerve function. This meticulous planning ensures that the surgical intervention addresses both structural integrity and cosmetic harmony.
Clinical Examination: Assessing jaw movement, bite alignment, facial symmetry, and checking for any sensory changes or nerve injury.
3D CT Scans: High-resolution computed tomography scans that provide a detailed, three-dimensional view of the fractured facial bones.
Virtual Surgical Planning: Utilizing specialized software to simulate the bone realignment and pre-bend titanium plates before entering the operating room.
The Step-by-Step Process of Open Reduction Internal Fixation
Understanding what happens during maxillofacial trauma surgery can help ease your anxiety. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia, ensuring you remain completely comfortable throughout. Our primary goal is to access the fractured bones through hidden incisions, minimizing visible scarring on your face.
Once access is achieved, we carefully clean the fracture site, remove any tiny bone fragments, and guide the main bone segments back into their original, healthy positions. We then secure these segments using specialized plates and screws.
Incision Placement: We place incisions inside the mouth or within natural skin creases, such as the eyelid or hairline, to keep scars hidden.
Bone Alignment: The broken bone segments are gently realigned to restore your natural facial shape and correct your dental bite.
Internal Fixation: We secure the realigned bones using low-profile, biocompatible titanium plates and screws that remain permanently under the skin.
Incision Closure: The surgical wounds are closed with dissolvable sutures inside the mouth or fine, aesthetic sutures on the skin.
Your Path to Recovery After Facial Trauma Surgery
Recovery from facial fracture surgery is a gradual process that requires patience and adherence to post-operative guidelines. While some swelling and bruising are entirely normal in the first week, these symptoms will steadily improve. We will provide you with detailed instructions on pain management, wound care, and activity restrictions.
Because your jaw and facial bones need time to heal without pressure, your diet will need to be modified. You will start with a liquid diet and progress to soft foods over several weeks, ensuring you receive adequate nutrition without compromising the surgical site.
Week 1 to 2: Focus on resting, managing swelling with cold compresses, keeping the mouth clean with gentle rinses, and consuming a strictly liquid or pureed diet.
Week 3 to 6: Swelling significantly decreases, and you can gradually transition to very soft foods like mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, and well-cooked pasta.
Month 2 and Beyond: Bone healing is usually complete by the eighth week, allowing you to slowly return to a normal diet and resume light physical activities.
Comprehensive Care for Complex Pan-Facial Trauma
Some accidents result in complex, multi-site injuries known as pan-facial trauma, where multiple bones across the upper, mid, and lower face are fractured simultaneously. These intricate cases demand a highly coordinated, multi-specialty approach to ensure all aspects of the patient's airway, vision, and facial structure are safely restored.
Complex pan-facial trauma and combined injuries are managed with the wider surgical team at our affiliated Apollo / partner hospital. This collaborative environment ensures that neurosurgeons, ophthalmologists, and other specialists work seamlessly alongside us to deliver comprehensive, life-saving, and restorative care.
Consult Our Dedicated Facial Trauma Surgeons in Chennai
When dealing with facial injuries, choosing the right surgical team is crucial for achieving the best functional and aesthetic outcomes. Dr. Pradeep S. and Dr. Kalpa Pandya are highly experienced oral & maxillofacial surgeons who provide personalized, hands-on care from your initial emergency evaluation through to your final follow-up appointment.
Dr. Pradeep S. brings advanced expertise in complex head and neck reconstruction, consulting at Apollo Main Hospital on Greams Road. Dr. Kalpa Pandya offers extensive experience in facial trauma management and dental implant rehabilitation, also consulting at Apollo Main Hospital on Greams Road. Together, they ensure that every patient receives a comprehensive, dual-surgeon assessment and a highly coordinated treatment plan.
We understand that traveling for specialized medical care can be stressful for patients and their families. Our practice warmly welcomes patients who travel to Chennai from across Tamil Nadu and the wider South India region. Whether you are seeking immediate treatment or a remote second opinion for a complex facial injury, we are committed to guiding you safely back to health.
What to expect
1Trauma assessment & imaging
2Reduction (realignment)
3Internal fixation (plates & screws)
4Bite & occlusion check
5Recovery & rehabilitation
Complex pan-facial trauma is managed with the wider surgical team at our affiliated Apollo / partner hospital.
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ORIF facial fractures — patient guides
Doctor-written explainers — authored by one surgeon and medically reviewed by the other.
Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) is a surgical procedure used to treat broken bones in the face. 'Open reduction' means the surgeon makes an incision to access and realign the bones, while 'internal fixation' refers to using titanium plates and screws to hold the bones securely in place during healing.
How is facial fracture surgery in Chennai performed?
The surgery is performed under general anesthesia. Dr. Pradeep S. or Dr. Kalpa Pandya will make precise, hidden incisions inside the mouth or in natural skin creases. They realign the fractured bones and secure them with tiny, biocompatible titanium plates and screws, ensuring minimal visible scarring.
What are the common signs that I have a jaw fracture?
Common signs of a jaw fracture include persistent pain, swelling, bruising, difficulty opening or closing your mouth, a change in how your teeth fit together (malocclusion), numbness in your lower lip or chin, and bleeding from the mouth. If you experience these after trauma, seek immediate evaluation.
How much does jaw fracture treatment cost in Chennai?
The cost of jaw fracture treatment in Chennai depends on several factors, including the complexity of the fracture, the number of plates and screws required, the choice of hospital, and the length of stay. Most health insurance policies cover emergency facial trauma surgery. We assist with all necessary insurance documentation.
What is the recovery time after facial trauma surgery?
Initial healing of the soft tissues takes about 10 to 14 days, during which swelling and bruising will subside. Complete bone healing typically takes six to eight weeks. Most patients can return to light desk work within two weeks but must avoid strenuous activities and contact sports for at least two months.
How soon can I get an appointment or second opinion for a facial injury?
We prioritize facial trauma cases and offer urgent consultations. You can typically secure an appointment or a remote second opinion within 24 hours. Dr. Pradeep S. and Dr. Kalpa Pandya will review your scans and clinical history promptly to recommend a safe, immediate treatment plan.
Will the titanium plates and screws need to be removed later?
In most cases, the titanium plates and screws are biocompatible and designed to remain in your body permanently without causing any harm or discomfort. They are only removed if they cause an infection, become exposed, or if the patient experiences persistent discomfort, which is rare.
What kind of diet should I follow after jaw surgery?
You will need to follow a strict liquid or pureed diet for the first two weeks to prevent pressure on the healing bones. As healing progresses, you can transition to soft foods like yogurt, mashed vegetables, and eggs. A normal diet can usually be resumed after six to eight weeks.
ORIF facial fractures in Chennai
Our practice serves patients across Chennai, with a convenient consultation location at Apollo Main Hospital on Greams Road. We cater to residents from nearby areas such as Nungambakkam, Anna Nagar, T. Nagar, Guindy, and Vadapalani, ensuring accessible, high-quality maxillofacial trauma care.
Discuss orif facial fractures
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