Treatment Options in Maxillofacial Fractures

From 2000 to 2010, 720 patients with facial trauma were admitted in Plastic Surgery Service of Argerich Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina; 58 of them with panfacial fractures were included in this study. Height velocity impact is the principal etiology, and most concomitant extrafacial injuries are neurocranium and cervical spine. Common affected areas were orbits, nose, and malar-zygoma. The timing of the treatment was airway evaluation, control of bleeding and consciousness, treatment of associated injuries, and finally facial reconstruction. The applications of craniofacial surgical techniques complete facial treatment in only operatory time by means of standard approaches like coronal, subciliar palpebral, upper and lower vestibular. The treatment was exploration to open sky; reduction and fijation with titanium plates; replacement of comminuted bones with bone autografts harvested iliac crest, calvary, and costal bones. The results were classificated acceptables in 48 (85%) and not acceptables in 9 (15%) according to successful reconstruction of the both form and armony facial, persistent esthetic and functional sequels, and postoperative complications. Postoperative complications were detected in 18 patients. According to most authors the use of internal rigid fixation and bone autograf permits obtaining the best aesthetic and functional results decreasing complications and sequels. The recuperation of tridimensional aspect of the face and aesthetic and functional pretrauma state must be the goal standard.