title: [Historical development of the treatment of fractures of the middle third of the face involving occlusion].
abstract: In the past decade principles of diagnosis and treatment of complex facial fractures have evolved dramatically. External appliances fixed to a headcap and semi-rigid immobilisation by wire suspensions which impose long term intermaxillary immobilisation have little by little disappeared. Conservative and often delayed fracture management has led to a more surgical and early approach in order to avoid difficult and often frustrating reoperations. The basic principles of fracture treatment are always based on re-establishing the occlusion to assume good function. The improvement in esthetic results are now derived from a better understanding of facial skeleton biomechanics, wide exposure of bony fragments and use of anatomic rigid internal fixation. Consequently, the duration of hospitalisation and job absence have been considerably reduced. This article reviews the historical steps from antiquity to present day, which mark the evolution of middle third fracture treatment.
authors.affiliation: Département de Chirurgie, Hôpital Cantonal Universitaire, Genève, Suisse.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Richter
mesh_terms: D005147:Facial Bones / Q000293:injuries*; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000266:history* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000266:history / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D049668:History, 15th Century; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D007572:Jaw Fractures / Q000266:history* / Q000628:therapy; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000266:history* / Q000628:therapy
vernacular_title: Evolution historique du traitement des fractures du tiers moyen de la face intéressant l'occlusion.