Otorhinolaryngology and maxillofacial surgery - what are these professions?

Otorhinolaryngology and maxillofacial surgery are professions that overlap and often collaborate in a multidisciplinary manner.*

ORL i maksilofacijalna kirurgija

ORL

The word otorhinolaryngology (ENT) is an abbreviated name for the medical profession for which the field of work is a large part of the head and neck. It deals with function, diseases, malformations and other disorders of the head and neck in children and adults. This profession actually consists of several smaller separate branches known as:

  • otology (diseases of the ear, temporal bones and skull base),
  • rhinology (diseases of the nose, paranasal sinuses and orbit of the eye),
  • pharyngology (including lips, oral cavity and pharynx, esophagus) and
  • laryngology (diseases of the voicebox and trachea).

Additionally, head and neck surgery (including diseases of the thyroid and salivary glands and other structures and skin), contributes mainly through head and neck plastic surgery due to rapid progress in the knowledge of anatomy and the development of technology (such as materials in implantology) .

A large part of aesthetic surgery and medicine (for example application of Botox or dermal fillers) is performed by ENT specialists with completed subspecialization/fellowship in head and neck plastic surgery.

* A more detailed description of the work of this profession can be found on the website of the Confederation of European Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (CEORLHNS) .

ORL i maksilofacijalna kirurgija

Maxillofacial surgery

Maxillofacial surgery is a field of medicine that deals with diseases in the areas of the face, jaw and mouth. It is closely related to otorhinolaryngology and oral surgery. In some segments ENT and maxillofacial surgery overlap. It deals with injuries, malformations and deformities as well as facial and neck reconstruction after extensive facial and jaw surgeries.

Here you can see the content of our other activities and find medical associates of the Polyclinic.

Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) and maxillofacial surgery are different medical fields, but sharing many similarities.

Areas that we deal with mostly

  • Snoring and sleep disorders
  • Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
  • Septoplasty – functional operation of the nasal septum, including rhinoplasty
  • Surgical treatment of paranasal sinuses – functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS)
  • Surgical treatment of salivary glands diseases
  • Surgical treatment of thyroid and parathyroid diseases
  • Congenital head and neck anomalies
  • Pediatric otolaryngology
  • ENT manifestations of systemic diseases
  • Otorhinolaryngology of the geriatric age