The Role of Maxillofacial Surgeon in Treatment of Patients with Combined Trauma. Algorithm for a Complex Diagnostic Evaluation

Background Trauma is a multisystem disease and careful, methodical and duly treatment may optimize the treatment outcome. This requires as quick as possible consultation with a maxillofacial surgeon (MFS), as well as of close multidisciplinary collaboration with other specialists and mainly by neurosurgeon and anaesthesiologist. Purpose The aim of our study is to define the maxillofacial surgeon role in treatment of combined trauma patients and to suggest an algorithm for a complex diagnostic evaluation Material and methods A total of 352 traumatic patients were retrospectively and prospectively examined for the period 05.2005 - 12.2011, treated at the MFS Ward at the St. Anna University Multidiscipline Active Treatment Hospital in Sofia, whereas MFT were determined in 129 patients. Results During clinical material analysis in our study, it was determined that in combined maxillofacial trauma (CMFT) patients most often consultations were performed with a neurosurgeon in 109 of examined patients, 21- with traumatologist, 18- with ophthalmologist, 11- with general surgeon, 3- with otorynolaryngologist (ENT). Conclusion Maxillofacial trauma treatment plays a major part in treatment of polytrauma patients and the importance of early inclusion of maxillofacial surgeon in these patients status estimation and treatment must be emphasized.