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Primary Surgery Vol.2 – Trauma : Lesser face injuries : Injuries of the cheek, the facial nerve, and the parotid gland

61.3 Injuries of the cheek, the facial nerve, and the parotid gland

Deep lacerations of a patient’s cheek may cut his facial nerve or his parotid duct, or both. Asymmetry in his smile will tell you that his facial nerve has been cut. Its temporal branch is the most important one because this supplies his eyelids, and division of it may expose his cornea. Division of its marginal mandibular branch will make his lip droop.

The parotid gland and its duct lie more superficially than the facial nerve, and are more easily injured.

Previous: INJURIES OF THE LIPS, THE GUMS, AND THE TONGUE Up: Lesser face injuries Next: STRUCTURES IN THE CHEEK Primary Surgery Vol.2 – Trauma