Prevention and Management of Infections Associated With Combat-Related Head and Neck Injuries

Abstract

Maxillofacial injuries constitute 16% of all war-related injuries. This review focuses on data available from military and civilian studies to provide evidence-based recommendations for the modification of infections associated with combat-related injuries to the head and neck. The major emphasis of this review is on the study of subsequent infection, perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis, debridement of devitalized tissue, optimal time to wound closure to achieve a water tight seal, wound irrigation with removal of debris and gross contaminants, fracture fixation, and removal of ocular foreign bodies with intravitreal antibiotics. Further studies are needed in combat-related injuries to the head and neck in military personnel to provide the highest evidence-based medicine recommendations.

A Prospective Clinical Evaluation of the Effects of Chlorhexidine, Warm Saline Mouth Washes and Microbial Growth on Intraoral Sutures

“…Brook and Hirokawa [12];Peterson et al [13], recognized streptococcus viridians, staphylococcus aureus, staphylococcus epidermidis, klebsiella, proteus, E. coli as organisms that are responsible for infection in head and neck injuries. This study cultured the same organisms.…”

Autologously Generated Tissue-Engineered Bone Flaps for Reconstruction of Large Mandibular Defects in an Ovine Model

“…1,2 Furthermore, these patients often have additional complicating factors, such as irradiation of the site in oncologic patients and massive composite defects of soft tissue, nerve, and bone in trauma and military populations. 1,3,4 Most commonly, these defects are reconstructed with autograft (AG) bone as either a flap (transferred with native vasculature) or as a graft (without vasculature). 5 While flaps are preferred, flap harvest and transfer is more technically demanding than grafting and there are less available donor sites for potential flaps.…”

New Finds from the Cremains in Tomb II at Aegae Point to Philip II and a Scythian Princess

“…Six Schmorl's nodes are seen on the articular surfaces of five lower thoracic vertebrae (Figure SI‐8). Spiculated new bone growth mainly found on the right maxillary (Figure SI‐9) and both frontal sinuses indicate chronic infections that could be the effect of endophthalmitis following facial trauma (Petersen et al ., ) rather than effects of upper respiratory disease or environmental factors such as pollution (Roberts, ). Subperiosteal and porotic new bone growth seen on the visceral surface of 14 out of 97 rib fragments (8 diaphyseal and 6 vertebral ends: 6 right, 6 not sided, 2 left) indicates pleurisy (Figure SI‐10).…”