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Current opinion in the assessment and management of ballistic trauma to the craniomaxillofacial region.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Breeze, J; Powers, DB
Published in: Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg
August 2020

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Ballistic trauma represents a small proportion of injuries to the craniomaxillofacial (CMF) region, even in societies where the availability of firearms is more prevalent. The aim of this article is to review current opinion in the assessment and management of ballistic injuries sequentially from primary survey to definitive reconstruction. RECENT FINDINGS: For mandibular fractures because of ballistic trauma, load-bearing fixation remains the mainstay in the treatment. The use of load sharing fixation is rarely advised, even if the fracture pattern radiologically appears to fulfil the traditional indications for its use. Clinicians must be aware of specific situations in early internal fixation is contraindicated, particularly in those unstable patients requiring short damage control surgical procedures, avulsive soft and hard tissue defects and those injuries at increased risk of infection. SUMMARY: Staged surgery for complex injuries is increasingly becoming accepted, by which injuries are temporarily stabilized by means of maxillary--mandibular fixation (MMF) or an external fixation. Patients are subsequently repeat CT-scanned, and definitive internal fixation performed a few days later. Increased access to virtual surgical planning (VSP) and three-dimensional plates has revolutionized fracture reconstruction.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg

DOI

EISSN

1531-6998

Publication Date

August 2020

Volume

28

Issue

4

Start / End Page

251 / 257

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Wounds, Penetrating
  • Plastic Surgery Procedures
  • Otorhinolaryngology
  • Maxillofacial Injuries
  • Humans
  • Fracture Fixation
 

Citation

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Breeze, J., & Powers, D. B. (2020). Current opinion in the assessment and management of ballistic trauma to the craniomaxillofacial region. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 28(4), 251–257. https://doi.org/10.1097/MOO.0000000000000634
Breeze, John, and David Bryan Powers. “Current opinion in the assessment and management of ballistic trauma to the craniomaxillofacial region.Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 28, no. 4 (August 2020): 251–57. https://doi.org/10.1097/MOO.0000000000000634.
Breeze J, Powers DB. Current opinion in the assessment and management of ballistic trauma to the craniomaxillofacial region. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020 Aug;28(4):251–7.
Breeze, John, and David Bryan Powers. “Current opinion in the assessment and management of ballistic trauma to the craniomaxillofacial region.Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, vol. 28, no. 4, Aug. 2020, pp. 251–57. Pubmed, doi:10.1097/MOO.0000000000000634.
Breeze J, Powers DB. Current opinion in the assessment and management of ballistic trauma to the craniomaxillofacial region. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020 Aug;28(4):251–257.

Published In

Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg

DOI

EISSN

1531-6998

Publication Date

August 2020

Volume

28

Issue

4

Start / End Page

251 / 257

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Wounds, Penetrating
  • Plastic Surgery Procedures
  • Otorhinolaryngology
  • Maxillofacial Injuries
  • Humans
  • Fracture Fixation