Close-Range Shotgun and Rifle Injuries to the Face

Abstract

The treatment of extensive shotgun and rifle injuries to the face is extremely difficult and demands experience in microsurgery and craniofacial surgery. Early aggressive surgery with immediate bone and soft tissue reconstruction is recommended for the management of extensive facial gunshot wounds. Experience has shown that early three-dimensional bone replacement can be achieved with bone grafts in the midfacial area if the bone grafts are covered with well-vascularized tissues. Large midfacial defects can be reconstructed safely and effectively with free-tissue transfers, including bone. In the acute stage, microvascular muscle flaps are preferred because of their good vascularity and good filling capacity. These flaps are able to cover the anterior cranial fossa. When vascularized bone is needed, the authors' first choice is a latissimus dorsi flap with scapular bone. Patients treated with an early and aggressive surgical strategy develop fewer problems in form of infection, contraction, scarring, and require fewer secondary corrections. Successful primary treatment allows the surgeon to use multiple modalities, including tissue expansion, free-tissue transfers, and local flaps in a noninfected environment. The treatment is rewarding, and the results are surprisingly good. It is extremely unusual for patients with self-inflicted gunshot injuries to reattempt suicide.