MINORS MANUAL
Eyebrow injuries involve damage to the soft tissues around the eyebrow region, including the skin, hair follicles, and underlying muscles. These injuries can result from trauma, such as falls, sports accidents, or cuts from sharp objects. Eyebrows are highly vascularised, which can lead to significant bleeding, but proper management typically ensures good healing with minimal scarring.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is made through visual inspection, assessing the location, depth, and extent of the injury. It is important to evaluate whether the wound affects deeper structures, such as the muscles or bones around the eyebrow, and to check for potential damage to nearby structures like the eyes or forehead. Care should also be taken to ensure the natural alignment of the eyebrow is preserved.
Differential Diagnosis
Pathology | Key Characteristics |
|---|---|
Simple laceration | Superficial cut, no damage to underlying structures, eyebrow alignment preserved |
Penetrating injury | Deeper tissue involvement, potential damage to underlying muscles or bone |
Avulsion injury | Partial or complete loss of eyebrow hair and skin |
Frontal bone fracture | Possible with severe trauma, associated swelling and pain in the forehead region |
Emergency Management
Haemorrhage control: Apply direct pressure with sterile gauze to control bleeding.
Wound cleaning: Irrigate the wound with sterile saline to remove debris and reduce the risk of infection.
Depth assessment: Minor lacerations that do not affect muscle or bone typically heal without complication. However, deeper wounds may require layered sutures to ensure proper healing of the skin and underlying tissues.
Suturing: Precise suturing is crucial to preserve the natural contour of the eyebrow and avoid noticeable scarring or misalignment. Use non-absorbable sutures for the skin and absorbable sutures for deeper layers if necessary.
Antibiotic prophylaxis: Consider antibiotics in cases of contaminated wounds or significant tissue damage.
Tetanus: Update tetanus vaccination if the wound is caused by a dirty or contaminated object.
Definitive Treatment
Definitive treatment aims to restore the normal appearance and function of the eyebrow. Proper alignment of the hair follicles and skin is critical to prevent visible scarring or deformity. In more severe cases, where there is significant tissue loss or muscle involvement, a plastic or maxillofacial surgeon may be needed to ensure optimal cosmetic and functional outcomes.
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