A historical review is presented on the development of the treatment of trauma of the maxillofacial skeleton in the context of international as well as national literature. The review has been devided in three periods: the period before the prophylactic use of antimicrobial agents (before 1950), the years of open reduction with wire osteosynthesis (1950-1980) and the period till present in which open reduction is combined with rigid internal fixation (after 1980). The latter period is also marked by the application of the principles of primary bone healing, whereas access to the maxillofacial skeleton is gained through a coronal incision, where needed.