Unveiling Traumatic Facial Wounds: A Comprehensive Study on Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Therapeutic Approaches

Abstract

Introduction: Dilapidated facial wounds are shredded injuries with loss of tissue substance. A surgical emergency characterized by complex anatomical clinic types that may expose vital organs. The objective of this study is to investigate their epidemiological, diagnostic, and therapeutic aspects. Material and method: This epidemiological, retrospective, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was conducted using patient records from individuals who experienced maxillofacial trauma resulting in decaying facial wounds between March 2017 and June 2021 at the Maxillofacial Surgery Department in Libreville, Gabon. All confirmed cases of traumatic dilapidated facial wounds were included, while patients with non-traumatic wounds were excluded. The analyzed parameters encompassed sex, age, etiology, clinical signs, and treatment. The criteria for patient assessment of the plasty outcomes were categorized as very satisfactory, satisfactory, not satisfactory, and disappointed. Results: A total of 33 cases were included in the study. The male-to-female sex ratio was 3.1:1. The average age of the patients was 29.8 ± 14.9 years. The majority of cases (36.4%) were attributed to road traffic accidents (AVP). Among the affected areas of the face, the lips were most frequently involved. Local plasty was performed in 24 patients, while 9 patients underwent regional plasty. The treatment outcomes were deemed satisfactory by 75.8% of the patients. However, 21.2% of the patients experienced functional sequelae as a result of the injuries. Conclusion: Young males are commonly afflicted by severe lesions, often leading to bone fractures. The application of local plasty has proven to yield favorable results in effectively managing these complex injuries.