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Semin Plast Surg 2025; 39(01): 008-013
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1801407
Review Article

Combat Ballistic Injuries to the Face

Grace C. Baisden
1   Department of Surgery, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
,
Lawson E. Spence
2   Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri
,
Jonathan N. Perkins
1   Department of Surgery, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
3   Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
,
Kerry P. Latham
1   Department of Surgery, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
3   Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
› Author Affiliations Funding None.
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Abstract

Combat ballistic injuries to the face present complex challenges for military medical personnel, often involving multiple traumas that require immediate intervention to preserve life and function. This review explores the mechanisms of ballistic trauma, highlighting the unique injury patterns seen in modern conflicts like those in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and Ukraine. Advances in protective gear have altered injury profiles, increasing the incidence of head, neck, and facial injuries. Early evacuation and definitive care are critical, though prolonged field care settings may require adapted surgical techniques due to resource constraints. The goals of surgical management focus on restoring form and function, with treatment strategies influenced by the severity of injuries and available medical resources. This article also discusses the long-term complications, such as infections, nerve injuries, and posttraumatic stress disorder, emphasizing the need for a multidisciplinary approach. The evolving nature of combat injuries underscores the importance of continuous surgical innovation and timely intervention to improve outcomes for soldiers suffering from ballistic facial trauma.

Keywords

combat ballistic injuries - craniomaxillofacial trauma - facial fractures - ballistic injuries

Note

USU-WRNMMC Surgery: The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private ones of the author/speaker and are not to be construed as official or reflecting the views of the Department of Defense, the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences or any other agency of the U.S. Government.




Publication History

Article published online:
26 March 2025

© 2025. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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