Pediatric Craniofacial Ballistic Injuries

Lindsey Teal; Craig B. Birgfeld; Srinivas M. Susarla

doi:10.1055/s-0044-1801736

Seminars in Plastic Surgery, Table of Contents

Semin Plast Surg 2025; 39(01): 028-036
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1801736

Review Article

Pediatric Craniofacial Ballistic Injuries

Authors

Lindsey Teal

¹Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington

²Craniofacial Center, Division of Craniofacial and Plastic Surgery, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington
Craig B. Birgfeld

¹Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington

²Craniofacial Center, Division of Craniofacial and Plastic Surgery, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington
Srinivas M. Susarla

¹Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington

²Craniofacial Center, Division of Craniofacial and Plastic Surgery, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington

³Craniofacial Center, Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington

⁴Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Washington School of Dentistry, Seattle, Washington

Abstract

Pediatric ballistic injuries are a public health crisis in the United States. Younger children are more likely to sustain craniofacial injuries, which are associated with higher mortality rates. An understanding of the timeline of craniofacial development and the variation in pediatric facial proportions over time is important to guide further treatment of these patients. Management of these patients includes initial stabilization according to the Advanced Trauma Life Support protocol followed by management of time-sensitive injuries. Ballistic injuries often result in soft tissue and bone defects, requiring fixation and coverage. As children experience faster rates of bone healing, fixation should be done promptly. Soft tissue coverage is dependent on the size of the defect; whereas smaller wounds can be closed with primary closure or local tissue rearrangement, larger wounds may require free tissue transfer.

Keywords

pediatric ballistic injuries - pediatric craniofacial fractures - facial fractures - craniofacial development

Full Text

References

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