[Interdisciplinary management of severe midfacial trauma]

The anatomy of the craniofacial skeleton is complex, the bones being closely associated with important neurological structures and sensory organs. The face itself is intimately associated with hereditary features and emotional feelings, and, as a consequence, midfacial trauma may lead to important aesthetic, functional and personal problems. Patients suffering from severe midfacial injuries reveal significant concomitant lesions of other body regions in a high percentage of cases. Thus, midfacial trauma patients require an elaborate interdisciplinary regimen of diagnostics and therapy. This paper provides on overview of the interdisciplinary management of midfacial trauma patients. The overlapping multispecialty fields are analyzed with emphasis on the viewpoint of the practicing ENT-surgeon. Assuming that basic principles of trauma care are known, interdisciplinary strategies and specific responsibilities for problem solving are provided. The ENT-surgeon is guided and called upon to play an active and cooperative part in the midfacial traumatology team.