[Priorities and treatment principles in maxillofacial trauma]

The outline of therapeutic priorities in case of maxillo-facial traumatism may be divided in three different stages according to the need of acute urgent, urgent and necessary intervention. Acute urgent therapy is called for when the bleeding of the arteria carotis externa or the maxillary artery cannot be quenched or when the superior airways are obstructed by the soft tissues of the tongue or the floor of the mouth. A description of the therapeutic attitude in such cases is given. Urgent therapy should be given within 8 hours after the accident and mostly consists in the immobilisation of bony injuries and definite care of soft tissue lacerations. Necessary therapy includes the final surgical treatment such as osteosynthesis by titanium mini-plates. More specific problems like frontobasal fractures and fractures of the orbital floor are described separately.