Fragmented care of facial fractures

The treatment of facial trauma currently falls within the purview of several surgical subspecialties, including plastic surgery, oral and maxillofacial surgery, otolaryngology, ophthalmology, and neurosurgery. The complexity of facial anatomy and the newer techniques for skeletal and soft-tissue reconstruction demand interdisciplinary, rather than multidisciplinary, care for these injuries. Interdisciplinary cooperation benefits the patient with a complex facial fracture by: minimizing chances for inadequate primary therapy, promoting discussion of controversial therapy, and providing the optimal therapy. Examples are given of unfavorable results following treatment of facial fractures. Recommendations are made to foster communication between the concerned surgical subspecialties.