Surgical problems of the war have emphasized the role of plastic surgery, accelerated the application of new discoveries to this field and stimulated the organized training of surgeons with the armed forces to handle maxillofacial injuries. The large scale incidence of certain types of injuries has resulted in notable advances in management.
ADVANCES IN TREATMENT APPLICABLE IN THE FIELD OF PLASTIC SURGERY
It is generally recognized that infections occur in approximately 3 to 5 per cent of clean surgical wounds. Investigations by Hirshfeld1 indicate that the sources of contamination may be (1) the air, (2) the hands of the surgeon and assistants or (3) the patient's own skin. Two sources contribute to the bacteria of the air; (a) the respiratory tract of members of the operating team and (b) the skin, hair and clothing of the operating team and the patient. These can be controlled to a large extent