Maxillary Fractures

Abstract

Facial trauma is often associated with severe morbidity with respect to loss of function and disfigurement. The maxilla is arguably the most anatomically intricate structure of the face and blunt trauma due to interpersonal violence, motor vehicle accidents, gunshot wounds, industrial accidents and falls contribute to etiology of maxillary fractures. Fractures of the midface are often challenging to the maxillofacial surgeon, due to wide variety of patterns of the fracture, diagnostic challenges and treatment dilemmas. The basic tenet in the management of these fractures is to reconstitute the vertical and horizontal buttresses of the midface, thus reestablishing structure and function. This chapter gives a comprehensive overview on the diagnosis, management and treatment of fractures of the Maxilla.