FIREARM INJURIES IN MAXILLOFACIAL REGION RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY

Firearms induce severe morphological and structural alterations on bot h soft and bony tissues of the face. It is therefore essential to rest ore their previous functionality. In our experience, maxillofacial les ions due to firearm shooting must be divided, from a locational point of view, into those lesions involving the upper third, those involving the medium third, and those involving the lower third of the face. Le sions of soft and bony tissues must be evaluated precisely through ins trumental diagnostic examinations and axial and coronal computed tomog raphic projection, preferably with a three-dimensional construction, t o be able to restore the previous functional integrity of the maxillof acial region. At a subsequent surgical time, it may be necessary to pl an aesthetic corrections for recovery of the previous facial harmony.