Fixing Facial Fractures in War Zones
November 20th, 2007 Posted by: Dr. Cox
(Ivanhoe Newswire) â Some soldiers who suffer facial fractures in battle can have those injuries repaired without evacuation to a hospital outside of the war zone.
The result is quicker repair of the injury, less likelihood of complications, and a lower risk of infection.
These findings come from a new study based on a review of 17 American soldiers who underwent a procedure called open reduction and internal fixation to repair their facial fractures in Iraq. The procedure involves the use of mesh implants or plates to mend the broken bones and was first approved for a select group of patients in the field in 2005. To qualify a soldier must have a facial fracture that is exposed by an open wound or will be exposed by another procedure being done to treat a nearby condition, treatment will not delay their evacuation from the war zone, and treatment will allow the soldier to remain in Iraq.
Military doctors were initially hesitant to allow this procedure in the field due to concerns about the sterility of conditions and fears it would promote infection and delay evacuation. A follow up on 16 of these patients, however, showed no signs of infection or complications, and only one patient required a subsequent procedure.
The investigators conclude in-theater repair of facial fractures using this technique can benefit U.S. soldiers.
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SOURCE: Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, published online Nov. 19, 2007.