Lower-third facial injuries: management and complications.

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Trauma Surgery

Background:

• Facial injuries, particularly in the lower third, present complex challenges in diagnosis and management.
• Understanding the patterns and outcomes of these injuries is crucial for effective treatment planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the characteristics, treatment modalities, and complications of lower-third facial injuries.
• To evaluate the outcomes of surgical reconstruction and conservative management for these injuries.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 1,110 patients with isolated lower-third facial injuries.
• Classification of injury types (bone, soft tissue, mixed) and fracture sites.
• Review of treatment approaches including reconstruction (flaps, grafts) and reduction techniques.
• Documentation of post-treatment complications and follow-up duration.

Main Results:

• Mixed bone and soft tissue injuries were most prevalent (72%), with mandibular body fractures being the most common (26.12%).
• 163 patients underwent reconstruction; three procedures failed due to gingival tearing.
• Complications involved soft tissue, nerves, tongue, and bone, with follow-up ranging from 3 months to 3 years.

Conclusions:

• Lower-third facial injuries frequently involve both bone and soft tissues, necessitating diverse treatment strategies.
• While reconstruction can be successful, complications are common and require careful management.
• Further research into optimizing reconstructive techniques and minimizing complications is warranted.