Civilian gunshot injuries to the face and jaws

Eighteen patients with different types of civilian gunshot injuries to the face and jaw were studied clinically and radiographically and treated in our department. Ten patients had soft tissue injuries and eight had mandibular fractures with soft tissue injuries. The weapons responsible for the injuries were rifles in five cases, handguns in two cases, shotguns in four cases, air guns in five cases and shrapnel from landmine explosions in two cases. The injuries were due to intentional fights in three cases and were accidental in the other cases.