COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF REGENERATIVE POTENTIAL INDICATORS IN PATIENTS WITH GUNSHOT AND NON-GUNSHOT MAXILLOFACIAL INJURIES

Abstract

Aim of the study. The aim of the study was to comparatively investigate changes in the main components of peripheral blood that directly affect the regeneration of damaged tissues in patients with gunshot and non- gunshot injuries of the maxillofacial tissues. Materials and methods. The study included 27 patients aged 30–35 years with traumatic open fractures of the mandible of gunshot and non-gunshot origin, accompanied by soft tissue injuries. Among them, 14 patients had gunshot injuries, and 13 patients had fractures resulting from road traffic accidents (RTA). Patients with gunshot injuries were admitted to the Department of Surgical Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery for further treatment on the 7th–10th day after osteosynthesis with titanium mini-plates using the intraoral method in hospitals of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The fractures were localized in the body and angle of the mandible. Patients who sustained injuries in RTAs underwent similar surgical interventions. Healing of soft tissue wounds in both groups of patients was uncomplicated. Peripheral blood parameters were analyzed once, in an automated mode, on the 7th–10th day after injury at the laboratory of the Ternopil Regional Clinical Hospital. The following parameters were assessed: platelet count, total protein level, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts, and the neutrophil-to- lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Results and discussion. The study revealed that the platelet count in patients with gunshot injuries was significantly higher compared to patients who sustained soft tissue injuries of the maxillofacial area in road traffic accidents (RTA). However, the total protein level in the blood of patients with gunshot injuries was significantly lower. A difference was also observed in the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, which was lower in patients with gunshot wounds. The number of neutrophils did not differ significantly between the compared groups. Conclusions. The comparison of regenerative capacity indicators in patients with gunshot and non-gunshot injuries shows that gunshot injuries have a more pronounced effect on structural and functional disturbances in remote areas of the body due to their higher kinetic energy. Among the studied indicators of regenerative capacity, the following were identified: a significant increase in platelet count, a decrease in total protein levels in the blood, and a lower neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with gunshot wounds.