[Initial management of severe facial injuries]

Severe facial injuries may be treated within the first 12-h-period or delayed for several days while the patient is transferred to an appropriate hospital. The goal of treatment should be optimal primary reconstruction of all the damaged structures. Specialized experience, instruments and a well-equipped operative theatre are necessary. Adequate primary treatment may so prevent functional losses or deficits and mutilations and reduce secondary plastic surgical interventions to a minimum. Typical case examples are demonstrated.