LITERATURE REVIEW OF IMF TECHNIQUES IN ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY

From ancient times to the present, the treatment of maxillofacial injuries requiring intermaxillary fixation has an extended history. Intermaxillary fixation (IMF) is a critical tenet in the treatment of patients with maxillofacial injuries. It is the basis for maxillofacial reconstruction, giving a strong foundation to restore facial aesthetics and function. With the introduction of bone plating systems in maxillofacial trauma, patients with fractures of the mandible or maxilla no longer require prolonged periods of intermaxillary fixation (IMF); however, there is frequently a need for temporary IMF intraoperatively to assist in the reduction of fractures, with the teeth in correct occlusion. Post operative IMF may also be required to stabilize the occlusion.