The face of war: The initial management of modern battlefield ballistic facial injuries

There is an increased incidence of maxillofacial trauma in conflicts of the 21st century in comparison to those of the 20th century. This is attributed to the asymmetrical nature of modern war with the increased use of improvised explosive devices and improved thoraco-abdominal protection provided by current body armour. This paper aims to briefly review the principles of the initial management of modern battlefield ballistic injuries. The opinions given in this paper are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the UK MoD.

[1]  P. Manson,et al.  High-energy ballistic and avulsive injuries. A management protocol for the next millennium. , 1999, The Surgical clinics of North America.

[2]  J. Ryan,et al.  The Falklands war: Army field surgical experience. , 1983, Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

[3]  Lorne H Blackbourne,et al.  Combat damage control surgery , 2008, Critical care medicine.

[4]  N. Mackenzie,et al.  Lessons learned in oral and maxillofacial surgery from British military deployments in Afghanistan. , 2010 .

[5]  P. Barker,et al.  Damage Control Surgery - Concepts and Practice , 2000, Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps.

[6]  J. Brennan.  Experience of First Deployed Otolaryngology Team in Operation Iraqi Freedom: The Changing Face of Combat Injuries , 2006, Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

[7]  J. Breeze,et al.  Current Concepts in the Epidemiology and Management of Battlefield Head, Face and Neck trauma , 2009, Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps.

[8]  T. Goksel.  Improvised explosive devices and the oral and maxillofacial surgeon. , 2005, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinics of North America.

[9]  P. Mahoney,et al.  ABC to ABC: redefining the military trauma paradigm , 2006, Emergency Medicine Journal.

[10]  D. Doll,et al.  Early Management of Gunshot Injuries to the Face in Civilian Practice , 2007, World Journal of Surgery.

[11]  D. Powers,et al.  Ten common myths of ballistic injuries. , 2005, Oral and maxillofacial surgery clinics of North America.

[12]  A. Gibbons,et al.  Lessons Learned in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery from British Military Deployments in Afghanistan , 2010, Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps.

[13]  A. Gibbons,et al.  A Drill-free Bone Screw For Intermaxillary Fixation In Military Casualties , 2003, Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps.

[14]  J. Shepherd,et al.  Trends in maxillofacial injuries in war-time (1914-1986). , 1989, The British journal of oral & maxillofacial surgery.

[15]  Michael J Gliddon,et al.  Maximising outcomes for maxillofacial injuries from improvised explosive devices by deployed health care personnel , 2008 .

[16]  Michael S. Xydakis,et al.  Analysis of Battlefield Head and Neck Injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan , 2004, Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

[17]  M. Loudon,et al.  Damage control resuscitation for patients with major trauma , 2009, BMJ : British Medical Journal.