The Approach to Cranioorbital Gunshot Wounds

Gunshot wounds to the head result in significant morbidity with a low rate of survival. Current treatment recommendations for penetrating traumatic brain injury (pTBI), established in 2001, are based off techniques used in recent Middle Eastern conflicts. However, many advancements in care have been made and updates in official pTBI treatment guidelines are being formulated. While some penetrating brain injury patients are managed nonoperatively due to poor prognosis, many undergo emergent interventions and delayed reconstruction by various surgical subspecialists. This article explores the management of pTBI and the collaborative roles of neurosurgeons, ophthalmologists, and plastic surgeons.