Our Experiences with Management of Complex Oro-Facial Injuries

Abstract

Background: Complex oro-facial injuries are very challenging, and may be associated with airway compromise, traumatic brain injury, facial fractures, soft tissue displacements and disfigurements. Airway management is critical to resuscitation and different specialists may be required for optimal treatment, and multidisciplinary management improves outcome.
Objective: To demonstrate the challenges in managing complex traumatic oro-facial injuries.
Methodology: Descriptive review of patients with severe traumatic facial injuries that presented within a 12-month period (September 2008 – August 2009) to our centre; four cases managed over the period were described to illustrate the challenges.
Conclusion: Complex traumatic facial injuries are best managed by centres that can offer early multidisciplinary services from specialized units because of the challenges of airway compromise, appropriate soft tissue approximation, complex facial fractures, infection, tissue losses and other injuries.