Introduction

Trauma to the face and head can be caused by a number of events, from explosions to road traffic accidents and blunt force trauma. The impact of these events can be significant, causing bony and / or soft tissue injury, as well as nerve damage. These injuries can affect vision, speaking, non-verbal communication, hearing, sense of smell, and eating and drinking. Many patients who experience a facial injury will be managed surgically and then require post-operative rehabilitation. Physiotherapists play a significant role in the post-operative phase, using manual techniques and exercise therapy to help clients restore function in their face.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this course you will be able to:

• identify the best method of imaging for facial injuries
• discuss key anatomical features of the face and their relationship to facial function
• discuss common causes of facial injury
• describe the ways in which different types of facial injuries can affect facial functions, including sight, breathing, smell, communication (oral and non-verbal), hearing, eating and drinking
• select appropriate physiotherapy interventions to manage patients following surgery for facial injuries

Target audience

This course is aimed at Physiotherapy and Physical Therapy clinicians, students and assistants. Other interested professionals such as athletic trainers, occupational therapists, nurses or medical doctors interested in this subject are also invited to participate.

Practicalities

• Availability - this course is online and can be completed on your own schedule.
• Hours of Learning - No deadlines are applied to this course and it can be started and completed in your own time according to your personal schedule. We expect the required elements to take around 1-1.5 hours depending on your schedule and learning style. Additionally there are many optional resources provided and if you choose to review these the course could take longer to complete.
• Types of Activities - This course includes instructional and/or practical videos, reading activities, AI supported learning activities, reflection, evaluation forms, a quiz and additional resources.
• Certificates - At the end of the course, when you have completed all of the required elements, you will be able to download a certificate of completion and 1.1 Plus points will be added to your personalised learning dashboard.

Instructor financial and non-financial disclosures

No relevant financial relationships disclosed by instructor.
Non-financial disclosures by Wendy Walker:
1. I am on the Medical Advisory Board for the charity Facial Palsy UK. - The role is purely advisory, and I receive no payment.
2. I provide an ad-hoc telephone advice service for The Lindens Clinic Ltd. - The role means that I talk to facial palsy patients with complex issues on the phone. I receive no payment, this is something I volunteered to do.

Accessibility and Non-Discrimination Policy

Physiopedia Plus is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible learning environment for all participants. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, national origin, religion, sex, disability, military status, sexual orientation or age in any aspect of our continuing education services. We are dedicated to ensuring that all learners can fully participate in our programmes. Participants who require accommodations or have special needs are encouraged to contact us with details so that we can make all reasonable efforts to meet these requirements.