Reconstruction in Oral & Maxillofacial Trauma

The facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon may choose a variety of techniques when attempting to close a facial defect. Adherence to basic principles aids in guiding reconstructive efforts. Successful reconstruction requires analysis of the entire defect and careful planning. The specific reconstructive method used should take into account a variety of factors and attempt to maximize function and minimize cosmetic deformity. Multiple closure techniques-may be used when defects cross facial aesthetic units. Surgeons are tirelessly working to reconstruct continuity defect in maxillofacial region for more than a century. Enormous progress has made especially over the last 40 years. Technique such as microvascular autogenous graft procedures have proved better options for reconstructing large and complex defects, but morbidity associated with harvesting bone graft is a major disadvantage. Alternatively, use of tissue engineering showed exciting promising results at preclinical level and in the limited clinical trial. Yet refinement of the technique and identification of the ideal scaffolding are necessary before wider clinical application.