Unfolding the hidden facts of paediatric maxillofacial trauma

Hard tissue injuries are uncommon in the paediatric patient; the paediatric population sustains 1 to 14.7% of all facial fractures. The management of the paediatric patient with maxillofacial injury should take into consideration, the differences in anatomy and physiology between children and adults, the presence of concomitant injury, the particular stage in growth and development and the specific injuries and anatomic sites that the injuries affect. Minimally displaced fractures in paediatric patients can be managed conservatively, while displaced fractures may require open approaches and rigid fixation. Hence, the present article presents an overview of the available published literature on maxillofacial trauma in paediatric patient.