Evaluation of alternative airway management strategies in surgical repair of severe cranio-maxillofacial trauma.

Background: Severe cranio-maxillofacial trauma requires the utilization of alternative airway management techniques when oral and nasal routes of tracheal intubation are either not possible or contraindicated.

Methods: This retrospective study evaluated the techniques of submental intubation, retromolar intubation and tracheostomy in terms of their frequency of use, time required, costs involved and associated complications in a total of 200 patients.

Results: Frequency of utilization of alternative airway management techniques was 3.

Comparative evaluation of 2.3 mm locking plate system vs conventional 2.0 mm non locking plate system for mandibular condyle fracture fixation: a seven year retrospective study.

Objective: This retrospective study evaluated the efficacy of a 2.3 mm locking plate/screw system compared with a 2.0-mm non-locking plate/screw system in fixation of isolated non comminuted mandibular condyle fractures.

Coronal approach to zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures.

Objective: Trauma of the zygomaticomaxillary complex constitutes 45% of all midface fractures. In the author's medical unit, the proportion is 40% of all fractures of the facial skeleton. Most zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures can be treated via local incisions, however; multiple, comminuted and late fractures require wide exposure of the fragments in order to adequately reposition them and to apply rigid fixation.