Comprehensive Management of Maxillofacial Projectile Injuries at the First Operation; “Picking up the Pieces”

The issue of when to treat maxillofacial firearm injuries with regard to timing (early or delayed), remains an issue of debate (1-4). Although not all maxillofacial projectile injuries can be comprehensively treated at onset, many indeed may (1-4). In over 50 cases of firearm injuries to the face at our center, more than 30 were treated via early comprehensive repair and simultaneous open reduction for maxillofacial fracture fixation. These patients underwent primary debridement and arch bar placement followed by open reduction of fractures (with or without osteosynthesis) followed by primary wound closure.