Multidisciplinary management of panfacial fracture: Case report
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v14i10.49808Keywords:
Internal fracture fixation, Multiple fractures, Facial injuries.Abstract
Panfacial fractures represent one of the most complex traumas of the craniofacial skeleton, characterized by the simultaneous involvement of two or more thirds of the face and associated with significant functional and aesthetic sequelae. This study aims to report the multidisciplinary management of a patient who suffered a severe panfacial fracture in a high-energy car accident, highlighting the therapeutic sequence adopted, the challenges faced, and the clinical outcome. The case involved a 27-year-old man with multiple trauma who presented fractures in the upper, middle, and lower thirds of the face, associated with extensive lacerations and ocular involvement. Treatment was performed in separate surgical stages with a staggered approach following the sequence from the most stable to the least stable areas, facilitating the re-anatomization of the supporting pillars of the face. Despite sequelae, such as visual loss and anosmia, satisfactory recovery of masticatory and deglutition functions was observed, favoring the patient's social reintegration. It is concluded that the successful management of panfacial fracture cases depends on the surgeon's experience, the careful definition of the surgical sequence, the appropriate timing of the intervention and, above all, multidisciplinary integration to optimize functional and aesthetic results.
References
Ali, K., & Lettieri, S. C. (2017). Management of panfacial fracture. Seminars in Plastic Surgery, 31(2), 108–117. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0037-1601370
Araujo, L. C., Cardoso, L. L., & Garcia, M. E. (2023). Tratamento de fratura panfacial: sequência de tratamento de baixo para cima dentro para fora: Relato de caso. *Research, Society and Development, 12*(9), e4912943113. https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v12i9.43113
Ellis III, E., et al. (2024). *MF – AO surgery reference. AO Foundation. https://surgeryreference.aofoundation.org/cmf/trauma/midface
Güerrissi, J. O. (2017). Fracturas panfaciales: Oportunidad de tratamiento. Revista Argentina de Cirugía, 109(4), 1–10.
Khan, N., Menon, W., Idris, M., Ahmed, M., & Taufiq, M. (2012). Post-traumatic near-complete aseptic necrosis of the maxilla: A case report and review of the literature. Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, 41(5), 429–431. https://doi.org/10.1259/dmfr/30043338
Kim, J., Choi, J.-H., Chung, Y. K., & Kim, S. W. (2016). Panfacial bone fracture and medial to lateral approach. Archives of Craniofacial Surgery, 17(4), 181–185. https://doi.org/10.7181/acfs.2016.17.4.181
Mahran, H., Hassnein, A., Rizq, M., & Sobhi, M. (2025). Management of panfacial fractures, multicentric retrospective study. The Egyptian Journal of Surgery, 44(1), 168-176. doi: 10.21608/ejsur.2024.309612.1148
Mardones, M. M., Bravo, R. A., Fernández, T. M. Á., Gunckel, M. R., & Torres, M. C. (2020). Sistemática en el tratamiento quirúrgico de las fracturas panfaciales aplicado a un caso clínico de alta complejidad. International Journal of Odontostomatology, 14(4), 590–595. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-381X2020000400590
Marí-Roig, A., McLeod, N. M. H., de Lange, J., Dubois, L., Reija, M. F. G., Minnen, B. V., & Essig, H. (2024). Controversies in the management of the airway in panfacial fractures: A literature review and algorithm proposal. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 13(23), 7275. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13237275
Massenburg, B. B., & Lang, M. S. (2021). Management of panfacial trauma: Sequencing and pitfalls. Seminars in Plastic Surgery, 35(4), 292–298. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0041-1742164
Mendes, N., Ferreira, B. C. B., Bracco, R., Martins, M. A. T., da Fonseca, E. V., & de Souza, D. F. M. (2016). Perfil epidemiológico dos pacientes portadores de fraturas de face. Revista da Associação Paulista de Cirurgiões Dentistas, 70(3), 323–329
Milloro, M., Ghali, G. E., Larsen, P., & Waite, P. (2016). Princípios de cirurgia bucomaxilofacial de Peterson (3ª ed.). Guanabara Koogan.
Mueller, C. A., & Hummel, T. (2009). Recovery of olfactory function after nine years of post-traumatic anosmia: A case report. Journal of Medical Case Reports, 3, 9283. https://doi.org/10.4076/1752-1947-3-9283
Pau, M., Reinbacher, K. E., Feichtinger, M., Navysany, K., & Kärcher, H. (2014). A sínfise mandibular como ponto de partida para a reconstrução oclusal de fraturas panfaciais com fraturas bicondilares e interrupção dos arcos maxilar e mandibular: Relato de dois casos. Journal of Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery, 42(5), e51–e56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcms.2014.02.010
Pereira, A. S. et al. (2018). Metodologia da pesquisa científica. [free ebook]. Santa Maria. Editora da UFSM.
Ramakrishnan, K., Indu, P., Narayanan, V., Chandran, S., & Narayanan, J. (2021). Sequencing of fixation in panfacial fracture: A systematic review. Journal of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery, 20(2), 180–188. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12663-020-01405-3
Ribeiro, R. B., de Miranda, E. C. L. S., Brito, T. A. P., de Almeida, R. C., e Silva, G. M. C., Costa, E. F. S., Sales, R. M. C. G., & Carvalho, R. S. (2021). Surgical approach to panfacial fracture with focus on the sequence of bone pillar reconstruction: A case report. Brazilian Journal of Development, 7(5), 52773–52783. https://doi.org/10.34117/bjdv7n5-642
Rother, E. T. (2007). Revisão sistemática x revisão narrativa. Acta Paulista de Informática. 20(2), 5-6.
Scannavino, F. L. F., dos Santos, F. S., Neto, J. P. N., & Novo, L. P. (2013). Análise epidemiológica dos traumas bucomaxilofaciais de um serviço de emergência. Revista de Cirurgia e Traumatologia Buco-maxilo-facial, 13(4), 95–100.
Scott, C., Ramakrishnan, K., Narayanan, V., & Saravanan, C. (2023). Assessment of clinical outcome of surgically managed panfacial fractures with or without ancillary procedures: A 10-year retrospective study. Journal of Oral Biology and Craniofacial Research, 13(2), 79–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobcr.2023.01.008
Sharma, S., & Dhanasekaran, V. (2015). Surgical approaches and management of panfacial trauma: A case report. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 9(8), ZD13–ZD14. https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2015/14404.6340
Silva, F. M., Franco, A. C. L., Carneiro, L. C. P. A. S., Inácio, J. P., & Meireles, F. B. (2024). Abordagem multidisciplinar no tratamento de fraturas complexas. Brazilian Journal of Implantology and Health Sciences, 6(8), 4469–4477. https://doi.org/10.36557/2674-8169.2024v6n8p4469-4477
Teles, I. C. M., Cruz, J. A., Parreira, D. R., de Sousa, G. H. C., & Curvina, M. M. G. (2017). Fratura panfacial: Um relato de caso. Revista de Medicina e Saúde de Brasília, 5(3).
Toassi, R. F. C. & Petry, P. C. (2021). Metodologia científica aplicada à área da saúde. (2.ed). Editora da UFRGS.
Widodo, D. W., Reksodiputro, M. H., Hakim, F. P., Hutauruk, S. M., Nasuri, E., Anatriera, R. A., Rosa, R. T., & Hamida, D. (2025). A paradigm in panfacial fracture treatment to improved dental occlusion. Trauma Case Reports, 55 , 101125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tcr.2025.101125
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Ana Luiza Becker, Thales Rossi, Karine Anschau Klagenberg, Laura Goldschmidt Follmann, Larissa Moro Stormovski, Kathleen Elizabeth Zimmer, Mateus Giacomin, Renato Sawazaki

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
1) Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
2) Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
3) Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
