Surgical correction of late sequelae from facial bone fractures

• Published in: The American journal of surgery Vol. 154; no. 1; pp. 149 - 153
• Main Authors: Thaller, Seth R., Zarem, Harvey A., Kawamoto, Henry K.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.07.1987; Elsevier
• Subjects: Accidents, Traffic; Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Bone Transplantation; Child; Ent, stomatology, face, injuries. Foreign bodies. Diseases due to physical agents: otorhinolaryngology; Facial Bones - injuries; Facial Bones - surgery; Female; Forehead - surgery; Humans; Male; Mandibular Injuries - surgery; Medical sciences; Methods; Nose - surgery; Orbit - surgery; Reoperation; Retrospective Studies; Skull Fractures - complications; Skull Fractures - surgery; Time Factors; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; Zygomatic Fractures - surgery; Human; Stomatology; Surgery; Maxillofacial; Plastic surgery; Fracture; Bone; Face; Trauma
• ISSN: 0002-9610; 1879-1883
• DOI: 10.1016/0002-9610(87)90306-0

This study has described the UCLA experience over a 5 year period in the treatment of secondary traumatic deformities utilizing the craniofacial techniques originally proposed by Tessier. Because of scarring, absent parts, and the malposition of segments, correction of long-standing traumatic deformities remains difficult and treatment results remain less than ideal. Primary correction utilizing the principles we have described herein still provides the best functional and aesthetic results. Facial fractures can no longer be considered as an independent and unrelated entity when dealing with the traumatized patient. If primary reconstruction continues to be compromised, correction of residual disfigurement will result in unnecessary patient morbidity and disturbances of facial form and function.