Plastic Surgery Contributions to the World Wars: Historical Foundations for Modern Craniofacial Techniques

Plastic surgery played a crucial role during the World Wars. Surgeons dedicated their careers to reconstructing facial injuries and residual deformities incurred during combat. Times of unprecedented trauma led to rapid innovation in plastic surgery, with invaluable impact on practice today. Pioneers such as Harold Gillies are well-known for their work. There are numerous additional contributors who deserve wider recognition.

A literature review was performed to identify key surgeons who treated soldiers' craniofacial injuries during World Wars I and II. Biographical information, country of practice, and technical contributions to plastic surgery were compiled.

Nineteen plastic surgeons were identified who contributed significantly to craniofacial surgery during the World Wars. These surgeons were: Albéric Pont, Archibald Mcindoe, Arthur Mowlem, Harold Gillies, Hippolyte Morestin, James Barrett Brown, Jaques Joseph, Johannes Esser, John Staige Davis, John Reese, Otto Lanz, Paul Tessier, Robert Ivy, Suzanne Blanche Gros Noël, Thomas Kilner, William Kelsy Fry, Varaztad H. Kazanjian, Vilray P. Blair, and Vladimir Petrovich Filatov. Fourteen were active during WWI. Nine were active during WWII. Notable technical developments were made in maxillofacial fracture fixation, bone grafting, rhinoplasty, dental prosthetics, flap-based coverage, skin grafting, and burn reconstruction.

Plastic surgeons played an unheralded role in managing the disfiguring craniofacial injuries of World Wars I and II. By treating tens of thousands of war victims, these surgeons contributed not only to the rehabilitation of soldiers but also to the advancement of craniofacial surgery and the establishment of plastic surgery as a distinct subspecialty.