Maxillofacial Surgery and dentistry is a compulsory course in the 5th year of the Integrated undergraduate and graduate university study of Medicine in English. It consists of 22 hours of lectures and 10 hours of practicals, totaling 32 hours (2 ECTS). The course is conducted in the Clinic of Maxillofacial Surgery (hospital, outpatient clinic at the polyclinic, operating rooms of the Clinic), while lectures are held in the large lecture room at Sušak.

The aim of the course is to get students acquainted with the specifics of maxillofacial surgery, a surgical branch that deals with the treatment of diseases of the mouth, jaw, face and certain pathological conditions of the head and neck. The aim is to familiarize the students with the most common diseases, their clinical features, the basics of diagnostics, treatment options, complications during and after surgery, the basics of patient monitoring and control systems, medical record keeping. In addition to the acquisition of basic theoretical knowledge, special emphasis is placed on training students to perform a proper physical examination of a maxillofacial patient, to identify differences between physiological and pathological conditions, correct medical conclusions about differential diagnostic possibilities, i.e. everything that every physician encounters and needs to know in practice. The emphasis is on the quality of physical examination, especially in the early detection of tumors and the consequences of delays in diagnosing this functionally and aesthetically significant region of the human body.

Course content: Introduction to the surgical anatomy of the maxillofacial region, clinical and radiological diagnostics. Traumatology; emergencies in head and neck injuries, examination and treatment of the injured patient, etiology, frequency and clinical features of head and neck soft tissue injuries, and specificities of surgical treatment. Fractures and treatment of viscerocranial bones – lower jaw, bones of the middle third of the face (upper jaw, facial bone, orbit), the upper third of the face (fronto-naso-orbitoethmoidal fractures), injuries associated with neurocranial fractures. Functional and aesthetic complications after delayed or inadequate treatment. Introduction to the dentoalveolar segment in children and adults. Basics of dental medicine relevant to medical students. Inflammation in the jaw and face (odontogenic and other nonspecific and specific inflammations) and complications. Salivary glands diseases. Head and neck tumors; tumors of the skin, lips, oral cavity and oropharynx, paranasal cavities, metastatic progression, treatment and reconstruction options of postoperative defects. Deformities (skeletal, dentofacial, and other deformities). Malformations (cleft lip and/or palate and other congenital malformations). Introduction to temporomandibular joint disorders. Orofacial pain (differential diagnostics).

Course teaching: Classes are conducted through lectures and practicals. Lectures cover theoretical knowledge, whereas practicals allow students to experience practical work with patients under the supervision of assistants. Practicals are taught in small groups during the morning clinical shift. After classes are finished, students take a written test, which is a prerequisite for taking the final, oral exam. By completing all course activities and taking the mandatory written test and final exam, the student acquires 2 ECTS credits.

1. Ivica Lukšić et al. Maksilofacijalna kirurgija, Ljevak, Zagreb, 2019.

2. Carrie Newlands, Cyrus Kerawala, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (Oxford Specialist Handbooks in Surgery) 3rd, Oxford University Press; 3rd edition, December 30. 2020. Selected chapters: Trauma, Oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer, Surgical dermatology, Salivary glands, Orthognathic surgery, Cleft lip and palate, The temporomandibular joint.

3. Jatin Shah, Snehal Patel, Bhuvanesh Singh, Richard Wong. Jatin Shah's Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology 5th Edition, Elsevier, April 2019. Selected chapter: Chapter 5 (Nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses).

4. Lectures are available to students in digital form on the Department’s website: Professor Margita Belušić-Gobić: “Oral and Oropharyngeal Cancers“ Professor Mirna Juretić: “Differential Diagnosis of Orofacial Pain“ Professor Mirna Juretić: “Head and Neck Skin Cancers: Surgical Treatment“

1. Aljinović-Ratković N., Traumatologija maksilofacijalne regije, teacher-made instructional materials, Zagreb, 2001.

2. Virag M., Disekcija vrata: logika i klasifikacija. Medicinar 40 (suppl. 1); 45-50, 1999.

3. Virag M., Deset predrasuda i nešto više činjenica o melanomu. Medicinar 45(3); 14-18, 2004.

4. Teacher-made instructional materials „Osnove kirurških šavi i lokalnih režnjeva“, Medicinski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, 2002.

5. Drago Prgomet et al., Tumori glave i vrata, Medicinska naklada, Zagreb, 2019.

6. Bagatin M., Virag M. et al.: Maksilofacijalna kirurgija, textbook, Školska knjiga, Zagreb, 1991.

Students are required to attend all practicals regularly.

Evaluation (ECTS credit system):

Student grading is conducted according to the current Ordinance on Studies of the University of Rijeka and the Ordinance on Student Assessment and Evaluation at the Faculty of Medicine in Rijeka (approved by the Faculty Council).

Students are graded according to the ECTS (A–E) and numerical system (1–5).

Out of a total of 100 grade points (100%), the student can obtain a maximum of 50% of grade points during classes and a maximum of 50% of grade points on the final oral exam.

There are no colloquia to assess student knowledge during classes. After classes are finished, students take a written test, which is a prerequisite for taking the final oral exam. The student can obtain a maximum of 50 grade points on the test, with the required level of 50% of solved questions for passing the test, i.e. at least 25 points. The prerequisite for taking the final oral exam is obtaining a minimum of 25 grade points during classes (provided that the test is passed with 50% correct answers, i.e. 20 points on the test).

After passing the oral examination, the final grade is formed by adding up the points obtained during classes and the points obtained on the oral exam.

Written test (maximum 50 grade points)

After attending classes (lectures and practicals), the student acquires grade points by taking a test consisting of 60 questions. The pass threshold (sufficient) is 50% (30) correct answers and the student can obtain the points according to the following table:

Class attendance: The student should compensate for any absence from practicals.

The final exam is oral. Success on the oral exam is converted into grade points as follows:

The student should obtain at least 25 points (50% of the total 50 points) on the final exam to obtain the final grade.

The final grade and knowledge assessment is the sum of grade points obtained during classes and on the final exam. The final student assessment is performed as follows:

- 90–100%, excellent (5), corresponds to grade A on the ECTS scale

- 75–89.9 %, very good (4), corresponds to grade B on the ECTS scale

- 60–74.9 %, good (3), corresponds to grade C on the ECTS scale

- 50–59.9 %, sufficient (2), corresponds to grade D on the ECTS scale

- 0–49.9 %, insufficient (1), corresponds to grade F on the ECTS scale

Who can take the final exam:

- students who obtained 25 and more grade points during classes.

Who cannot take the final exam:

- students who obtained less than 25 grade points during classes

- students who did not take the written test

- students who did not compensate for their absence from practicals.

Additional information regarding the course and exam terms can be found on the Department’s website.

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Academic year
2021/2022	[Download]

Course

Maxillofacial Surgery and Dentistry

Study programs

Year of study

ISVU ID

URL

ECTS

2

Lecturers

Clinical skills

Details 2021/2022

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