Abstract
Patients who have maxillofacial fractures with a traumatic severe craniofacial injury often have disturbed consciousness. Early surgical treatment of such patients remains controversial.
We treated maxillofacial fractures in three patients with a traumatic disturbance of consciousness. These patients underwent open reduction using a mini-plate under general anesthesia. Early surgical fixation was associated with no clinically significant complications. All three patients recovered consciousness completely within 50 days after injury.
Early surgical treatment can reduce occlusal dysfunction and cosmetic damage. A close working relationship with neurosurgeons and anesthesiologists is critical to deciding the optimal timing for surgical treatment in patients who have maxillofacial fractures associated with disturbed consciousness.
