A study on shotgun injuries to the craniomaxillofacial Region in a Nigerian Tertiary Health Center.

CONTEXT

Short-range shotgun wounds of the craniomaxillofacial region are life-threatening and are as devastating as military rifle wounds.

AIMS

This study aimed to evaluate the pattern of presentation of craniomaxillofacial shotgun injuries, types of shotgun injuries, and the outcome of treatments in our environment.

SETTING AND DESIGN

This is a prospective observational study. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective observational study conducted from February 2006 to March 2012. All patients with shotgun wounds to the craniomaxillofacial region were included in the study by convenient sampling method. Glezer's shotgun classification scheme was used to categorize the patients into short-, intermediate-, and long-range shotgun wounds. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS version 16.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

Descriptive statistics were used to calculate the data. Mean and standard deviation (SD) were calculated for all quantitative variables such as age. Frequency and percentages were presented for qualitative variables.

RESULTS

A total number of 28 patients were seen. Ages ranged from 19 to 64 years with a mean (±SD) of 32.7 (±11.4) years. The two most commonly used shotguns were locally made pistol (25, 42.9%) and the cut-size gun (10, 35.7%) and the least commonly used was Dane gun (1, 3.6%). Close-range injury to the face was 17 (60.7%) while that of intermediate- and long-range injuries were 6 (21.1%) and 5 (17.9%), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Wounds sustained from close-range shotguns to the face were the most common in this environment. The outcome of treatment was satisfactory when treated with conservative debridement and early reconstruction.