Our Experience Managing Difficult Accidental Chainsaw Trauma

J Craniofac Surg. 2019 Oct;30(7):2207-2210. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000005846.

Abstract

Background: Chainsaw and circular-saw injuries represent a rare condition within the maxillofacial region. The purpose of this clinical report is to describe the injuries and the clinical and surgical management of these rare traumas.

Methods: In this clinical report, 11 patients presenting themselves to the emergency room in the hospital "Policlinico Le Scotte," Siena, from March 2016 to September 2017 with severe chainsaw and circular-saw injuries, were included. All of the patients underwent general anesthesia and surgical treatment. This study describes 3 of the 11 patients with saw injuries.

Results: No complications occurred during surgeries and a good primary closure of the wound margins were achieved in all patients. However, after surgery, the authors experienced some complications in 2 patients: the 1st one displayed chewing problems due to extensive local edema; the 2nd one developed a total loss of vision in his left eye, even though there was no damage inflected to the eye ball during the trauma or surgery.

Conclusion: All the patients were followed during the 1st year after surgery. The authors evaluated the patients at 3 months, 6 months, and after 1 year, and none of them developed complications or alterations related to the trauma. However, 1 patient is still experiencing loss of vision and he is under constant specialized follow-up.

MeSH terms

  • Accidents
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Maxillofacial Injuries / surgery*
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Wounds, Penetrating / surgery*