assessment of maxillofacial gunshot injuries and emergency management

ABSTRACT

Firearm injuries constitute a major challenging problem in maxillofacial surgery, causing major deformities of human body, and financial Burden to our society. Violent crimes are the major cause. Unemployed youth and socioeconomic deprivations are factors which contribute towards violence. There are few important steps in management of head and neck gunshot injuries, obtaining an airway, control hemorrhage, recognizing additional injuries and finally definitive repair facial deformities. The objective of this study was to report the causes, and patterns of maxillofacial gunshot injuries. A retrospective assessment of patients treated for gunshot injuries at Mayo hospital Lahore from May 2007 to July 2009 and February 2010 to January 2011 at Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad was conducted, and data was collected with special emphasis on the patient's demographics, mode of injury, initial airway management, and bone injuries The sample consisted of 120 patients. [78.3%] males, in third and fourth decade of age were the most common group, violent crime [62.5%] was the predominant cause, and mandible [58.3%] was the most common site of injury. From this Available information provided in this study, is concluded that violent crime was major cause of facial gunshot injuries. Male gender and young adults were the most commonly victimized patients