title: Management of facial gunshot wounds.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine pattern and presentation in terms of site of injury, airway, associated injuries; and management of facial gunshot wounds.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Oral Surgery Department, Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry, Rawalpindi, between January 2001 and December 2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients with gunshot wounds of the face managed at the Oral Surgery Department during the study period were included by convenient sampling method. Patients were treated by a multidisciplinary team of maxillofacial surgeon, otorhinolaryngologist and plastic surgeon. Descriptive statistics were used to determine frequencies and mean + or - SD for qualitative and quantitative variables respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 38 patients with gunshot wounds to the face were identified. Age ranged from 15 to 42 years with mean of 28 + or - 4.98 years. There were 32 (84%) males and 06 (16%) females. Twenty two (57%) patients required airway management. The most frequent site involved was mandible in 25 (65%) patients while midface was involved in 13 (35%) patients. Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) was performed in 17 (44%) patients, while 21 (56%) patients were managed conservatively. Out of 38 patients, 15 (39%) patients had some complications; trismus, sinusitis and infection being the most frequent (10.5% each).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Facial gunshot wounds frequently involve mandible with more likely requirement of establishment of emergency airway and open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). Early management of gunshot wounds results in better psychosocial profile, aesthetics, reduced hospital stay and early return to function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery, Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry, Rawalpindi. gulzar366@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Syed Gulzar
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Sali Bukhari
authors.forename: Idrees
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Babar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pasha
authors.forename: Waseem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ahmad
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000293:injuries*; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult