An unusual facial injury highlighting the basics of diagnosis in maxillofacial trauma: a case report.

The authors present an unusual and bizarre missile type of maxillofacial injury in a 7-year-old girl, who was struck in the middle of her face by an iron hook. The area between her forehead and upper lip was obliterated, making a clinical and radiologic diagnosis impossible. The authors review the current diagnostic methods used in maxillofacial trauma, including standard and computed tomography, to emphasize the importance of a correct preoperative diagnosis in the management of maxillofacial injuries.