Precision and Progress: Key Developments in Craniomaxillofacial Surgery

Dear readers, colleagues, and friends of our journal.

Welcome to the enriching September 2024 issue of our Journal of Craniomaxillofacial Trauma & Reconstruction. This extraordinary collection of carefully curated articles presents a broad field of topics ranging from innovative surgical techniques to insightful epidemiologic studies to groundbreaking technological advances designed to enhance our understanding and treatment options in craniomaxillofacial surgery. All the articles in this issue are worth mentioning—a small selection is presented below.

We begin with a look at precision in surgical practice. Raissa Dias Fares and colleagues from the team of our friend and AO CMF Latin America Board Chair Nicolas Homsi take a critical look at the placement of bicortical screws in the treatment of mandibular fractures in their exciting study “Tomographic evaluation of bone height between the mandibular canal and the inferior cortex of the mandible related to bicortical screws fixation.” Their study emphasizes the importance of accurate measurements to avoid damage to the inferior alveolar nerve. It gives us surgeons essential guidelines to increase patient safety during oral- and cranio-maxillo-facial surgeries.

The authors of the following article pursue a similar goal. In “Anatomical landmarks and branching pattern of the greater auricular nerve,” Swafiya Salim et al. (with Fawzia Butt as the last author and highly appreciated AO CMF supporter at the University of Nairobi College of Health Sciences) map the pathways of the greater auricular nerve to help surgeons avoid nerve injuries during parotidectomies and rhytidectomies. Such detailed anatomical mapping is invaluable for performing sensitive facial surgery with less risk of iatrogenic complications.

With Daniel Delgado-Piedra and his team’s study on the patterns of facial fractures in a Mexican hospital (“Patterns of midface and mandible fractures in a Government Hospital”), our journal also adds epidemiologic insights to the spectrum of this issue. Their cross-sectional study of 490 patient cases highlights prevailing trends and suggests tailored surgical interventions, enriching our understanding of demographic-specific strategies for treating facial injuries.

Of course, technological innovations in imaging and virtual surgical planning must also be present in this issue. In the article “Improving Cranial Vault Remodeling for Unilateral Coronal Craniosynostosis—Introducing Automated Surgical Planning,” Emilie Robertson and co-authors from the University of Alberta discuss how advances in artificial intelligence and imaging techniques are revolutionizing the precision of surgical planning and execution, thereby improving outcomes and potentially shortening recovery times. In addition, the use of automated virtual surgical planning, particularly in the treatment of craniosynostosis, demonstrates how modern technology plays an essential role in devising effective surgical strategies that are both safe and efficient.

Steffen Claudius and the team from Charité Berlin (with CMF-Surgery Berlin Chair and AO CMF advocate Max Heiland) examine the complexities of revision surgery and refixation of mandibular fractures after ORIF in-depth and explain the critical factors determining the success or necessity of secondary procedures. Their insights are precious as they emphasize the importance of precision and excellence in the initial treatment to minimize the need for further interventions.

Heather Schopper’s paper from the University of Kansas Medical Center, “Comparing Current Practice Habits for Treatment of Subcondylar Fracture Among Craniomaxillofacial Surgeons,” is a good fit for this study. It is based on a survey sent to members of AO CMF and the American Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery.

In addition to these focused studies, the September 2024 issue presents insightful reviews and comparative analyses that enrich our clinical perspectives. Each article contributes to a broader understanding of potential improvements in patient care and surgical outcomes, from innovative approaches to treating zygomatic complex fractures to biomechanical evaluations of new osteosynthesis fixation techniques.

The collective knowledge presented once again in this brand-new issue of the Journal of Craniomaxillofacial Trauma & Reconstruction expands our understanding of the multifaceted nature of craniomaxillofacial trauma. It underscores our commitment to advancing medical practice and research. Each submission brings us closer to the forefront of innovative treatments and enhances our ability to provide our patients with the highest standard of care in our daily clinical practice.

We thank all authors for their continued commitment and contributions, which are essential to the continued success of our journal and the advancement of our unique and exciting surgical specialty.

This time, we would like to express our special thanks to our Managing Editor, Mirjam Bucher, Senior Project Manager, and the AO Foundation team, who are dedicating themselves to our established journal with great passion—especially given the transition to open-access publishing in the coming year, which marks a new era for our CMTR.

We would also like to express our sincere thanks to our associate editors and the numerous CMTR reviewers who have enabled us to maintain the high scientific quality of this journal. Without them, this journal would not exist. Our reviewers dedicate a considerable amount of their (free) time to evaluating the submitted articles. Their valuable feedback helps to make each article even better, thanks to their suggestions for improvement. Thank you very much for this!

We trust that you will find our latest issue engaging and enlightening.

Stay empathetic and healthy!

Your Editors in Chief.

Florian M. Thieringer (Basel), Kathy Fan (London) and Mike Y. Y. Leung (Hongkong).