Management of facial fractures in children and adolescents.

The surgical management of facial fractures in children has evolved gradually. Children sustaining facial fractures have not benefited equally as their adult counterparts from the rapid refinements in the management of facial trauma. Only recently have the distinct advantages of accurate primary repair of facial fractures been applied to the rehabilitation of the injured child. The pattern of craniomaxillofacial fractures seen in children and adolescents varies with their evolving skeletal anatomy and socioenvironmental factors. A personal philosophy for the effective management of the craniomaxillofacial injuries that tend to occur in facially traumatized children and adolescents is reviewed.