Maxillofacial trauma: a potentially fatal injury

Trauma remains one of the fastest growing causes of death in the United States, especially within the young adult population. Injuries to both the soft tissue and bony skeleton of the face constitute a high percentage of all traumatic admissions that pass through many emergency rooms. Because maxillofacial injuries are often dramatic, they can easily divert attention away from other medical priorities. In spite of numerous significant advances, the management of maxillofacial trauma remains a challenging problem for all reconstructive surgeons. From reading the literature, it can be assumed that maxillofacial trauma is rarely life threatening or an immediate cause of death, unless associated with airway compromise. We present our experience with 6 illustrative patients who either succumbed to complications or had life-threatening exsanguination secondary to isolated facial trauma.