Mid-facial fractures and their current classification systems: narrative review

Background: The review aims at identifying the classification system used for mid-facial fractures and its applications in clinical settings. Mid-facial fractures are a significant health concern due to frequent vehicle accidents that result in damage to the oral and maxillofacial regions. Additionally, these accidents may result in life-threatening hemorrhaging, respiratory failure, serious head trauma, or possibly other functioning impairments. Over 1 million people die each year, and more than 25 million individuals are injured due to road accidents. Accurate diagnosis is one of the most difficult challenges that must be overcome while treating these types of fractures. In this sense, classifying facial fractures aids in diagnosis and directs therapy. Methods: The data for this review were obtained from various databases such as Google search, PubMed, ScienceDirect. The keywords such as mid-face fractures, Le Fort fractures, classifications and review were used in combinations and along with their synonyms to search for data. Duplicates were removed to gain a comprehensive and through data. Key Content and Findings: Facial fractures involving the zygomatico-maxillary and naso-orbito-ethmoidal complexes provide unique functional and aesthetic challenges, making knowledge of the most common patterns and classifications crucial. Treatment regimens are correspondingly planned. As a result, there have been numerous classification methods developed to date. These classification systems along with computed tomography-guided evaluation are extremely useful to the surgeons. Conclusions: Precise diagnosis and surgical treatment are critical for the successful management of complex fractures. This review focuses on the modified classification system for dealing with mid-facial fracture consequences, as well as their diagnosis and treatment. Knowledge of all these classifications aid clinician to reach correct diagnosis and thus plan the treatment.