Dental & Oral Health

Suturing lacerations in accident and emergency departments within hospital is a crucial part of working in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department. For a trainee, it is important to learn about the anatomical landmarks of the face, layers of soft tissue and general treatment and management of patients who present with lacerations of the head and neck region, to achieve the best functional and aesthetic results. I will present a series of 5 case reports with photographs where lacerations have been sustained by patients attending the emergency department. The treatment delivered to these patients are dependent on a number of factors: Mechanism of injury, depth of laceration, any involved structures, patient background (including medical history) and a simple guide for those early in their training, including the benefits of prescribing chloramphenicol eye ointment 1% for use on the wound for 7 days, and supporting evidence, indications for antibiotic cover and use of haemostatic agents to control bleeding.