Citation

Zor F, Aykan A, Coskun U, Aksu M, Oztürk S. J. Craniofac. Surg. 2015; 26(3): 691-695.

Affiliation

*Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey †Department of Radiology, Okmeydani Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey ‡Abdi Ipekci Caddesi, Maltepe Caddesi, Istanbul, Turkey.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/SCS.0000000000001588

PMID

25974775

Abstract

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term aesthetic and functional results of suicidal gunshot injuries using objective methods to identify the residual problems after one-stage reconstruction.

METHODS: Twenty male patients with gunshot injuries resulting from suicide attempts who were treated in the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Gulhane Military Medical Academy were included in the study. The control group was composed of 10 male volunteers. The reconstructions of all involved structures were performed within 1-3 days of the injury. The patients were evaluated both aesthetically and functionally. The Body Satisfaction Scale was used for evaluation of aesthetic appearances of the facial structures. To evaluate swallowing, videofluoroscopy, cine-magnetic resonance imaging, submental electromyography, Functional Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing, and submental ultrasound were performed. Perceptual speech analysis was used for speech evaluation.

RESULTS: The Body Satisfaction Scale score was statistically higher in the control group than in patients with both ongoing and completed reconstructions (P < 0.05). Swallowing disturbances and their frequencies were higher in the study group than in the control group. The most frequently observed swallowing disturbance was stasis in the sinuses. The laryngeal elevation and geometric angle of the epiglottis in the study group were statistically lower than in the control group (P < 0.05). The mean amplitude of contraction of submental muscles was lower in the study group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The Multidimensional Voice Program showed statistically significant differences between the treatment and control groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Objective assessment methods enabled us to retrospectively evaluate the treatment and identify the specific problem underlying functional and aesthetic morbidities.

Language: en