Treatment of Post-traumatic Facial Deformities.

Abstract

Skeletal abnormalities in patients with post-traumatic facial deformities can generally be corrected with current craniomaxillofacial techniques. Delay in operative management secondary to associated life-threatening injuries, failure to appreciate the magnitude of the initial facial injury, inadequate operative treatment and operative complications contribute to their occurrence. Systematic evaluation of the midface, including the position of the globes, orbits, zygomatic (facial) width and occlusion, is of paramount importance. Some contour deficiencies can be camouflaged by relatively simple procedures, whereas some deformities may require osteotomies and repositioning of the displaced segments. Staged procedures need to be planned carefully so that previously diagnosed deformities are not concealed and new deformities are not created. The general goals of reconstruction are (i) to restore normal and anatomic bone alignment, (ii) to re-establish the underlying skeletal support prior to addressing soft tissue abnormalities and (iii) to replace missing tissue with like tissues. Restoring the normal bony architecture should be the initial consideration unless the quantity or quality of the soft tissue envelope is inadequate to protect the osseous reconstruction. The purpose of this study is to evaluate post-traumatic facial deformities and simulation and organization of all the treatment modalities in a sequential manner.