Background : The sequelaes of treatment for maxillofacial fractures are commonly associated to great morbidity, lost of function and aesthetics compromise among others that is why is important to understand their characteristics, etiology, possible treatments and outcomes. Nowadays there are only a few studies in Chile and South America about maxillofacial fractures treatment and their sequelaes

Objective : The aim of this study was to establish the frequency of sequelaes in 80 patients surgically treated with maxillofacial fractures in the Maxillofacial Surgery Service of San Jose Hospital, North Area Santiago, Chile. Between January 2008 and January 2012.

Method : A descriptive study was developed, in which patients surgically treated with osteosynthesis plates and screws for facial fractures were questioned and clinically assessed searching for different sequelaes. Patients were controlled after a period of at least one year from the surgery. Sequelaes were divided in 5 groups: (1) infectious, (2) functional: mandibular motility, ocular motility, malocclusion and others, (3) aesthetics: scars, asymmetries and others, (4) neurological: hypoesthesia, dysesthesia, paralysis and vision alterations (5) others: nonunion, exposition or fracture of osteosynthesis materials and other sequelaes related by patients. Data was introduced and analyzed in EpiData Software with a confidence interval of 95%.

Results : The most prevalent sequeales were aesthetics (36%), principally asymmetries and scars, followed by neurologic sequelaes (31%), especially hypoesthesias and dysesthesias. Functional sequelaes represent 17% of all sequelaes. Other sequelaes represent 14% of all sequelaes. Infection was only found in 2% of sequelaes. Most sequelaes were not related with the surgical treatment.

Conclusions : Surgical treatment with osteosynthesis miniplates and screws is a successful procedure to achieve a complete and stable fixation of maxillofacial fractures with minimal attributable sequelaes. Most of sequelaes are associated with the trauma although the auspicious outcomes of the surgical intervention.

Key words: treatment facial sequelae; maxillofacial fractures