Craniofacial, Oral and Maxillofacial, and Otorhinolaryngological Injuries During the 2023-2025 War on Gaza
The escalation of the Israeli military invasion of Gaza since October 2023 has generated an extraordinary burden of craniomaxillofacial and otorhinolaryngologic trauma while simultaneously dismantling the health system required to meet such needs. We present a purposively sampled, multi-institutional narrative case series of 22 patients managed between 2023 and 2025 in hospitals across Gaza. These lived experiences, stories, and clinical insights highlight the effect that a crumbling civilian and health infrastructure, limited access to basic medical supplies, and the indiscriminate nature of blast and gunshot wounds have on the recovery and care planning of complex pathologies. Mandibular and midface comminution, contaminated soft-tissue loss, and otologic or neurovascular injury were often present. Assessing strategies to maintain an airway, manage debridement, control hemorrhage, provide provisional fixation, and facilitate a staged return were often salient considerations when providing clinical care.
Authors
- Omar El‐Taji (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1788-3669)
- Abdulwhhab Abu Alamrain (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0170-8903)
- Younis Elijla
- A. Soni (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6239-2105)
- Heba Abu Shiha
- Mohammed Alnajjar
- Abdallah Abu Shammala (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-2862-4670)
- Adam Hamawy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0580-4407)
- Ruba Musallam
- Mohammed Al-Hasan
- Shaymaa Abuhaiba
- Othman Nassar
- Ahmed Abuseifan
- Mahmoud Mahani
- Lina Abumughessib
- Eman Rabah
- Khalil Alinaby
- Bilal Irfan
- Ayham ElQomboz
- James Smith
- Moath Abu Safar
- Ghazi Mezeid
- Khalil Elkahlout
- Mohammed Halimy
- Hebatallah Elkhatib
- Marah Shamali
- Raghd Alfarra
- Aya Hussam
- Yara Asi
- Hend Abo Helow
- Ameer Ali
- Maysaa Elmasry
- Dina Abdu
- Ali Ghaleez
Institutions
- Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
- Al-Azhar University – Gaza (PS)
- Physicians for Human Rights (US)
- Harvard University (US)
- University of Cape Town (ZA)
- Mansoura University (EG)
- Islamic University of Gaza (PS)
- Al-Aqsa University (PS)
- Al-Quds University (PS)
- University of Michigan (US)
- Dar Al-Shifa Hospital (PS)
- Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (GB)
- Aga Khan Hospital, Kisumu (KE)
- University Medical Center of Princeton (US)
- Center for Practical Bioethics (US)
- Humanitarian Institute (RU)
- University of Pennsylvania Health System (US)
- University College London (GB)
- University of Palestine (PS)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Craniofacial Surgery
- Published
- 2025-11-26
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1097/scs.0000000000012228
- Primary Topic
- Disaster Response and Management
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00