Maxillofacial Injuries

Trauma to the maxillofacial (MF) region usually requires a multidisciplinary approach for proper management (with a team composed of an emergency medicine specialist, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, an otolaryngologist, an ophthalmologist, and a plastic surgeon). These injuries are usually associated with other multisystem injuries, requiring coordination between other surgical specialties. Assault is the most common cause of MF injuries in developed countries followed by road traffic accidents (RTAs), whereas in underdeveloped regions, RTAs are the leading cause. Other etiologies include sport injuries, stumbling, pedestrian collisions, and warfare. This chapter addresses the classification and general principles of management of MF injuries. It discusses the assessment and treatment of injuries of facial soft tissues and specialized structures (the parotid gland and duct, facial nerve, and ear) as well as fractures of the facial bones (nasal, mandibular, and midfacial).