Introduction: Maxillofacial Trauma has always been a topic of great interest to the maxillofacial surgeon.

There are many studies on literature that assess sociodemographic factors, clinical patterns and treatment types.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to compare the evolution of the patterns and treatment of maxillofacial trauma in patients surgically treated at the Hospital Carlos van Buren de Valparaíso from 1998 to 2011

Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted of maxillofacial trauma, were reviewed the clinical records of patients treated at Hospital Carlos Van Buren, comparing the clinical patterns of facial fractures and their treatment in two groups of series of cases from 1998 to 2002 and 2006 to 2011. Recording sociodemographic data, causes of injury, affected areas and type of treatment, assessing changes in clinical characteristics and surgical resolution over time, related to the influence of factors in their evolution.

Results: Comparing the two series, there was an increase of cases treated in the period 2006-2011. The main differences in demographic data are related to the increased percentage of treated women 17.1% to 22.6% and increased injuries in children. In relation to the types of treatment, we observed the first period evaluated patients treated with cerclage wire compared to the second period, rigid fixation was used on all fractures operated.

Conclusions: There is a significant increase in surgical procedures in our medical center, concluding that the introduction of new surgical techniques coupled with the experience that the surgical team has acquired over the years are key factors.

Conflict of interest: None declared.