Management of Soft Tissue Injuries in the Maxillofacial Region

Abstract

AbstractSoft tissue injuries of head and neck are the most common injuries encountered by the maxillofacial surgeons during their clinical practice. Therefore, one must have a sound knowledge of the various types, their mechanisms of injuries and most importantly, the management of the same. This chapter discusses the classification system of all types of soft tissue injuries, and focuses on the principles of management of different types of the injuries, with emphasis on their mechanism and healing process. Numerous figures, box diagrams and case scenarios are added to make the chapter interesting and provide real time information about the topic. A special note on necrotizing fasciitis, one of the most challenging infections in the head and neck region has also been mentioned along with information about wound dressings. Recent advances in the management of soft tissue injuries like use of growth factors, bioengineered skin substitutes and stem cell therapy are enumerated for the readers to encourage them about futuristic approaches. The authors hope that the readership attains a holistic knowledge about various aspects of the soft tissue injuries and their management.